Automated cartridge system
First Claim
1. A magnetic tape cartridge storage and retrieval system comprising:
- a plurality of library storage modules, each said library storage module including;
a first cylindrical array having radially outward disposed storage cells;
a second cylindrical array, concentrically arranged about said first cylindrical array, said second cylindrical array having radially inwardly disposed storage cells;
first transfer means for manually inputting and outputting magnetic tape cartridges to and from said library storage module;
at least one tape drive adapted for use with said magnetic tape cartridges;
second transfer means for automatically moving selected ones of said magnetic tape cartridges between said library storage modules and;
third transfer means, in each of said library storage modules, for selectively moving magnetic tape cartridges between said storage cells, said tape drives and said first and second transfer means.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A storage and retrieval subsystem in a data processing system includes a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges, a host computer, and a library storage module storing the plurality of magnetic tape cartridges in substantially upright positions. The library storage module includes a first cylindrical array of storage cells centered about a vertical axis, a second cylindrical array concentrically arranged about the first array, and a library tape unit including a plurality of tape drives, each of the tape drives being adapted to receive one of the magnetic tape cartridges in a substantially horizontal transducing position. A robot within the library storage module is used to transfer selected ones of the magnetic tape cartridges between their substantially upright positions and the substantially horizontal transducing positions at a selected tape drive. A first controller outboard the channel communicating with the host computer is adapted to receive commands from the host computer for interfacing between the host computer and the library storage module, and a second controller inboard of the channel is adapted to receive commands from the outboard controller for interfacing between the outboard controller and the robot.
118 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. A magnetic tape cartridge storage and retrieval system comprising:
-
a plurality of library storage modules, each said library storage module including; a first cylindrical array having radially outward disposed storage cells; a second cylindrical array, concentrically arranged about said first cylindrical array, said second cylindrical array having radially inwardly disposed storage cells; first transfer means for manually inputting and outputting magnetic tape cartridges to and from said library storage module; at least one tape drive adapted for use with said magnetic tape cartridges; second transfer means for automatically moving selected ones of said magnetic tape cartridges between said library storage modules and; third transfer means, in each of said library storage modules, for selectively moving magnetic tape cartridges between said storage cells, said tape drives and said first and second transfer means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. In an object handling system that includes two or more self contained, independently operating object handling modules, each of which includes a plurality of object storage locations and a robot for retrieving objects stored in said object storage locations, each of said two or more object handling modules juxtaposed to at least one other of said two or more object handling modules, apparatus for interconnecting said juxtaposed object handling modules to automatically compensate for multidimensional misalignment between said two juxtaposed object handling modules comprising:
-
at least one movable object storage location pivotally connected to carriage means for receiving at least one of said objects from said robot; means for transporting said at least one movable object storage location and said carriage means between two said juxtaposed object handling modules to pass objects therebetween; first means located in a first one of said two juxtaposed object handling modules and connected to one end of said transporting means for positioning said at least one movable object storage location and said carriage means in alignment with said object storage locations in said first object handling module for access by said robot contained therein; second means located in a second one of said two juxtaposed object handling modules and connected to a second end of said transporting means for position said at least one movable object storage location and said carriage means in alignment with said object storage locations in said second object handling module for access by said robot contained therein. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An expandable robotic object handling system for robotically storing and retrieving a plurality of objects stored therein comprising:
two or more object storage modules, each including; a polygonal array of object storage locations forming a piecewise cylindrial array, at least one aperture, located in a corresponding side of said polygonal array, for transferring objects into and out of said object storage module, robot means located within said polygonal array for transporting said objects between said object storage locations and said aperture; means for attaching said aperture containing side of a first of said object storage modules with an aperture containing side of a second of said object storage modules, including; at least one object storage location for receiving one of said objects from said robot means, means for transporting said at least one object storage location between said aperture containing sides of said first and second object storage modules to pass said objects therebetween.
Specification