Tape cartridge storage system

• US 5,072,838 A
• Filed: 07/06/1990
• Issued: 12/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Engineered Data Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Engineered Data Products, Inc.
• Inventors: Starkey, Daniel C., Price, Macy J. Jr., Johnson, Mack E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Jr., Robert W.
• Application Number:
  US07/551,131
• Time in Patent Office: 529 Days
• Field of Search: 211/122, 211/162, 211/188, 211/151, 211/1.5, 211/10, 211/41, 206/387, 312/245, 312/246, 312/250, 312/198, 49/404, 49/425, 49/431, 248/188.4
• US Class Current: 211/162
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 53/00 Cabinets or racks having several sections one behind the other for show or display A47F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 81/068 Cassette cabinets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 88/42 Vertically-oriented drawers, i.e. drawers where the height exceeds the width
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/06 with movable or removable shelves or receptacles A47F3/0486 takes precedence; display racks with movable parts A47F5/0081
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 7/14 for pictures, e.g. in combination with books or seed-bags ; for cards, magazines, newspapers, books or booklike articles, e.g. audio/video cassettes racks or containers with dispensing arrangements A47F1/04; for cardboard panels, e.g. posters, A47F7/0042
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/0669 with height adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/20 for furnitures, e.g. cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 15/6825 Details of magazines, e.g. removable, adapted for cassettes of different sizes
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 23/0236 Containers for several cassettes

Abstract

Apparatus for use in the storage and retrieval of tape cartridges is provided and comprises a fixed storage rack having horizontal shelves for holding tape cartridge storage holders, and a plurality of movable storage racks are mounted for rolling movement in front of the fixed storage rack. Male and female guides on the fixed storage rack and the movable storage rack guide the movement of the movable storage rack. A roller assembly is mounted on each of the movable storage racks and has one wheel mounted on a fixed axle and a second wheel mounted on an adjustable axle so that each movable storage rack may be adjusted to align it with the fixed storage rack.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in the storage and retrieval of tape cartridges comprising:

a stationary storage rack having a plurality of horizontally-extending shelves which are equally spaced-apart in a vertical direction;

each of said shelves supporting a plurality of equally-sized tape cartridge storage holder units in a side-by-side relationship with the tape cartridges in said holder units facing outwardly;

at least two movable storage racks located in front of said stationary storage rack;

each of said movable storage racks having a plurality of horizontally-extending shelves which are equally spaced-apart in a vertical direction;

each of said shelves being dimensioned to receive and support at least one tape cartridge storage holder unit similar to said plurality of tape cartridge storage holder units with the tape cartridges therein facing outwardly;

mounting means for mounting each of said movable storage racks to permit movement thereof to provide for access to at least some of said tape cartridge storage holder units on said shelves of said stationary storage rack;

alignment adjusting means for adjusting the alignment of each of said movable storage racks relative to said stationary storage rack;

guide means for guiding the movement of said movable storage racks;

wherein said mounting means comprise;

a base extending outwardly from said bottom portion of said fixed storage rack means and having an upwardly facing surface;

track means on said base for guiding each of said movable storage rack means for movement over said upwardly facing surface; and

at least two spaced apart wheels mounted on said bottom portion of each of said movable storage rack means and located to be in contact with said upwardly facing surface to permit rolling movement of each of said movable storage rack means over said upwardly facing surface;

one of said at least two spaced-apart wheels rotates around a fixed axle;

the other of said at least two spaced-apart wheels rotates around an axle that is adjustable;

wherein said adjusting means comprises;

a pivot rod mounted at a fixed location;

a pair of spaced-apart lever arms mounted for pivotal movement on said pivot rod;

said adjustable axle mounted on opposite end portions of said lever arms on one side of said pivot rod;

force applying means for applying a force to opposite end portions of said lever arms on the other side of said pivot rod to pivot said adjustable axle;

wherein said force applying means comprise;

a rod extending between and mounted on said opposite end portions of said lever arms on said other side of said pivot rod;

a support mounted at a fixed location and having an opening extending therethrough;

a movable member mounted for movement toward or away form said support and having a threaded opening extending through a portion thereof;

said rod mounted on said movable member for movement therewith and located at a location spaced from said threaded opening;

a threaded bolt having an enlarged head portion passing through said opening and in threaded engagement with said threaded opening;

said other wheel applying a force on said lever arms to urge said enlarged head portion into contact with the portions of said support surrounding said opening;

said enlarged head portion having a configuration to receive a tool for rotating said threaded bolt to move said movable member relative to said support to move said rod to move said lever arms around said pivot to adjust said adjustable axle; and

wherein said movable member comprises;

an inverted U-shaped member having a base and two spaced-apart legs;

a block secured to said base and located between said spaced apart legs;

said threaded opening extending through said block;

each of said spaced-apart legs having an opening formed therein; and

said rod passing through said openings in said legs.

2. Apparatus for use in the storage and retrieval of tape cartridges comprising:

a stationary storage rack having a plurality of horizontally-extending shelves which are equally spaced-apart in a vertical direction;

each of said shelves supporting a plurality of equally-sized tape cartridge storage holder units in a side-by-side relationship with the tape cartridges in said holder units facing outwardly;

at least two movable storage racks located in front of said stationary storage rack;

each of said movable storage racks having a plurality of horizontally-extending shelves which are equally-spaced-apart in a vertical direction;

each of said shelves being dimensioned to receive and support at least one tape cartridge storage holder unit similar to said plurality of tape cartridge storage holder units with the tape cartridges therein facing outwardly;

mounting means for mounting each of said movable storage racks to permit movement thereof to provide for access to at least some of said tape cartridge storage holder units on said shelves of said stationary storage rack;

alignment adjusting means for adjusting the alignment of each of said movable storage racks relative to said stationary storage rack;

guide means for guiding the movement of said movable storage racks;

wherein each of said guide means comprise;

each of said shelves of said stationary storage rack having a front surface facing said at least two movable storage racks;

a first portion of said guide means secured to said front surface of at least one of said shelves;

said first portion having a length corresponding to the length of said surface;

each of said shelves of said at least two movable storage rack means having a rear surface facing said stationary storage rack;

a second portion of said guide means secured to said rear surface of at last one of said shelves on each of said at least two movable storage racks and located to be engaged with said first portion to guide the movement of said at least two movable storage rack means; and

guide mounting means for mounting each of said second portions on said rear surface so that each of said second portions is capable of limited movement relative to said rear surface in at least vertical and horizontal directions.

3. The invention as in claim 2 and further comprising:

said first portion comprising a base portion, an integral stem portion projecting outwardly from said base portion and an integral female guide member projecting outwardly from said stem portion; and

said second portion comprising a base portion, an integral stem portion projecting outwardly from said base portion and an integral male portion projecting outwardly from said stem portion and located in said female portion for sliding movement relative thereto.

4. The invention as in claim 3 wherein said mounting means for mounting said second portion comprise:

a support member having a base portion having a generally planar surface facing and secured to said rear surface and an integral central body portion spaced from said rear surface to form a space for said base portion of said second portion;

said central body portion having a longitudinally extending slot formed therein and having a closed end and an open end for receiving said stem portion of said second portion;

retaining means for retaining said stem portion in said slot while permitting limited longitudinal movement of said second portion; and

said space and said slot having a cross-sectional configuration in a vertical direction greater than the cross-sectional configuration of said base portion and said stem portion in the vertical direction to allow for said limited vertical movement.

5. The invention as in claim 4 wherein:

said retaining means, said space and said slot being dimensioned to permit limited movement of said second portion in all directions.

6. The invention as in claim 2 wherein said mounting means for said at least two movable storage racks comprise:

a base extending outwardly from said bottom portion of said fixed storage rack means and having an upwardly facing surface;

track means integral with said base guiding each of said movable storage rack means for movement over said upwardly facing surface; and

at least two spaced-apart wheels mounted on said bottom portion of each of said movable storage rack means and located to be in contact with said upwardly facing surface to permit rolling movement of each of said movable storage rack means over said upwardly facing surface.

7. The invention as in claim 6 wherein:

one of said at least two spaced-apart wheels rotates around a fixed axle; and

the other of said at least two spaced-apart wheels rotates around an axle that is adjustable.

8. The invention as in claim 7 wherein said alignment adjusting means comprises:

adjusting means for adjusting said adjustable axle.

9. The invention as in claim 8 wherein said adjusting means comprise:

a pivot rod mounted at a fixed location;

a pair of spaced-apart lever arms mounted for pivotal movement on said pivot rod;

said adjustable axle mounted on opposite end portions of said lever arms on one side of said pivot rod; and

force applying means for applying a force to opposite end portions of said lever arms on the other side of said pivot rod to pivot said adjustable axle.

10. The invention as in claim 9 wherein said force applying means comprise:

a rod extending between and mounted on said opposite end portions of said lever arms on said other side of said pivot rod;

a support mounted at a fixed location and having an opening extending therethrough;

a movable member mounted for movement toward or away from said support and having a threaded opening extended through a portion thereof;

said rod mounted on aid movable member for movement therewith and located at a location spaced from said threaded opening;

a threaded bolt having an enlarged head portion passing through said opening and in threaded engagement with said threaded opening;

said other wheel applying a force on said lever arms to urge said enlarged head portion into contact with the portions of said support surrounding said opening; and

said enlarged head portion having a configuration to receive a tool for rotating said threaded bolt to move said movable member to move said rod to move said lever arms around said pivot to adjust said adjustable axle.

11. Apparatus for use in the storage and retrieval of tape cartridges comprising:

a stationary storage rack having a plurality of horizontally-extending shelves which are equally spaced-apart in a vertical direction;

each of said shelves supporting a plurality of equally-sized tape cartridge storage holder units in a side-by-side relationship with the tape cartridges in said holder units facing outwardly;

at least two movable storage racks located in front of said stationary storage rack;

each of said movable storage racks having a plurality of horizontally-extending shelves which are equally spaced-apart in a vertical direction;

mounting means for mounting each of said movable storage racks to permit movement thereof to provide for access to at least some of said tape cartridge storage holder units on said shelves of said stationary storage rack;

adjusting means for adjusting the alignment of each of said movable storage racks relative to said stationary storage rack;

guide means for guiding the movement of said movable storage racks; and

each of said shelves on said movable storage rack means being dimensioned to accommodate only one tape cartridge storage holder unit.

12. The invention as in claim 11 wherein:

each of said shelves of said stationary storage rack having a width that is slightly more than twice the width of each of said tape cartridge storage holder units so that said tape cartridge storage holder units can be placed on each of said shelves in a back to back relationship so that said stationary storage rack has a first open wall portion and a second open wall portion.

13. The invention as in claim 12 wherein:

said plurality of movable racks comprises a first plurality of movable storage racks and a second plurality of movable storage racks;

mounting means for mounting each of said first plurality of movable storage racks for movement in linear directions parallel to said first open wall portion and for mounting each of said second plurality of movable storage racks for movement in linear directions parallel to said second open wall portion;

said first plurality of movable storage racks being in a number less than the number of said tape cartridge storage holder units that can be placed on one of said shelves of said stationary storage rack in a side-by-side relationship to provide access to said tape cartridge storage holder units on said shelves facing outwardly from said first open wall portion of said stationary storage rack; and

said second plurality of movable storage racks being in a number less than the number of said tape cartridge storage holder units that can be placed on one of said shelves of said stationary storage rack in said side-by-side relationship to provide access to said tape cartridge storage holder units on said shelves facing outwardly from said second open wall portion of said stationary storage rack.

14. Apparatus for use in the storage and retrieval of tape cartridges comprising:

a stationary storage rack having a plurality of horizontally-extending shelves which are equally spaced-apart in a vertical direction;

each of said shelves supporting a plurality of equally-sized tape cartridge storage holder units in a side-by-side relationship with the tape cartridges in said holder units facing outwardly;

at least two movable storage racks located in front of said stationary storage rack;

each of said movable storage racks having a plurality of horizontally-extending shelves which are equally spaced-apart in a vertical direction;

each of said shelves being dimensioned to receive and support at least one tape cartridge storage holder unit similar to said plurality of tape cartridge storage holder units with the tape cartridges therein facing outwardly;

mounting means for mounting each of said movable storage racks to permit movement thereof to provide for access to at least some of said tape cartridge storage holder units on aid shelves of said stationary storage rack;

adjusting means for adjusting the alignment of each of said movable storage racks relative to said stationary storage rack;

guide means for guiding the movement of said movable storage racks;

upper and lower stop means for preventing movement of said movable storage racks off of said base;

wherein said lower stop means comprises;

a pair of stop members, each having a body portion and at least one integral depending leg portion;

said stationary storage rack having a pair of opposite sidewalls;

a base extending between and projecting outwardly in at least one direction from said sidewalls;

each of said sidewalls having at least one slot formed therein;

said base having spaced-apart slots formed therein;

each body portion extending through one of said slots in said sidewalls and each depending leg portion extending through one of said slots in said base so that a portion of said body portion extends outwardly from each of said sidewalls and upwardly from said base to be contacted by one of said movable storage racks to prevent further movement thereof; and

securing means for securing each of said stop members to one of said sidewalls.