Library apparatus having recording medium entry and ejection units
First Claim
1. A library apparatus comprising:
- a cell unit having a plurality of cells each accommodating a recording medium cartridge;
a recording medium drive unit for writing and reading data to and from any one of said recording medium cartridges;
an accessor for automatically switching recording medium cartridges between said cell unit and said recording medium drive unit; and
a cartridge entry unit for entering recording medium cartridges into said library appartus, said cartridge entry unit including;
a stacker for stacking a plurality of recording medium cartridge so tht each cartridge rests on any cartridge below it, and the lowest cartridge rests on stage means for carrying the recording medium cartridge stacked in said stacker, said stage means being arranged to move up and down;
hook means for separating the lowest-positioned cartridge from the recording medium cartridges stacked directly on said lowest-positioned cartridge by separating the stacked cartridges and lifting them off of said lowest-positioned cartridge; and
delivery means for delivery to said accessor the recording medium cartridge separated by said hook means, said delivery means gripping the separated recording medium cartridge at multiple locations, said delivery means being arranged to execute the delivery without altering the orientation of the separated recording medium cartridge in effect when the carriage was stacked in said stacker.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A magnetic tape library apparatus having a magnetic tape cartridge entry unit and an automatic cartridge ejection includes a cell unit having a plurality of cells each accommodating a magnetic tape cartridge, a magnetic tape drive unit for writing and reading data to and from any one of the magnetic tape cartridges, and an accessor for automatically switching magnetic tape cartridges between cell unit and magnetic tape drive unit. The magnetic tape cartridge entry unit of the library apparatus includes a stacker for stacking a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges entered externally, and a delivery mechanism for delivering to the accessor each cartridge separated from the stacked cartridges in the stacker. The automatic cartridge ejection unit receives the cartridge from the accessor and transports it to an appropriate position for delivery onto a tray.
14 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A library apparatus comprising:
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a cell unit having a plurality of cells each accommodating a recording medium cartridge; a recording medium drive unit for writing and reading data to and from any one of said recording medium cartridges; an accessor for automatically switching recording medium cartridges between said cell unit and said recording medium drive unit; and a cartridge entry unit for entering recording medium cartridges into said library appartus, said cartridge entry unit including; a stacker for stacking a plurality of recording medium cartridge so tht each cartridge rests on any cartridge below it, and the lowest cartridge rests on stage means for carrying the recording medium cartridge stacked in said stacker, said stage means being arranged to move up and down; hook means for separating the lowest-positioned cartridge from the recording medium cartridges stacked directly on said lowest-positioned cartridge by separating the stacked cartridges and lifting them off of said lowest-positioned cartridge; and delivery means for delivery to said accessor the recording medium cartridge separated by said hook means, said delivery means gripping the separated recording medium cartridge at multiple locations, said delivery means being arranged to execute the delivery without altering the orientation of the separated recording medium cartridge in effect when the carriage was stacked in said stacker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A library apparatus comprising:
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a cell unit having a plurality of cells each accommodating a recording medium cartridge; a recording medium drive unit for writing and reading data to and from any one of said recording medium cartridges; an accessor for automatically switching recording medium cartridges between said cell unit and said recording medium drive unit; a cartridge entry unit for entering recording medium cartridges into said library apparatus, said cartridge entry unit including;
a stacker for stacking a plurality of recording medium cartridges so that each cartridge rests on any cartridge below it, and the lowest cartridge rests on stage means for carrying the recording medium cartridges stacked in said stacker, said stage means being arranged to move up and down;
hook means for separating the lowest-positioned cartridge from the recording medium cartridges stacked directly on said lowest-positioned cartridge by separating the stacked cartridges and lifting them off of said lowest-positioned cartridge; and
delivery means for delivering to said accessor the recording medium cartridge separated by said hook means, said delivery means gripping the recording medium cartridge separated by said hook means at multiple locations, said delivery means being arranged to execute the delivery without altering the orientation of the separated recording medium cartridge in effect when the cartridge was stacked in said stacker; andan automatic cartridge ejection unit for automatically ejecting recording medium cartridges from inside said library apparatus, said automatic cartridge ejection unit including;
cartridge transport means for receiving the recording medium cartridge delivered by said accessor, transporting the delivered cartridge to a predetermined position and releasing the cartridge therein; and
a tray assembly disposed under said cartridge transport means for carrying the recording medium cartridge released by said cartridge transport means, said tray assembly comprising a pair of side walls, a rear wall, a tray furnished in a vertically movable manner along said rear wall, and driving means for moving said tray vertically.
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Specification