Lateral cross-cabinet access for horizontal storage library
First Claim
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1. A media library, comprising:
- a first enclosure containing a first plurality of horizontal trays, said first plurality of horizontal trays containing a first array of media elements that are connected to be carried between said first plurality of horizontal trays and a plurality of media players by a first robot;
a second plurality of horizontal trays contained within a second enclosure, said second plurality of horizontal trays containing a second array of media elements that are connected to be carried between said second plurality of horizontal trays and said plurality of media players by a second robot, wherein said plurality of media players are contained in at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure; and
a mechanism that carries media elements between said first enclosure and said second enclosure along a cross-enclosure guide rail.
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Abstract
A system for relocating elements within a storage library is provided, the library comprising plurality of adjacent horizontal arrays of storage cells and at least one robot that moves along the horizontal arrays and can retrieve objects from and place objects into the storage cells. The present invention comprises a cross-cabinet guide rail that is placed at the end of the adjacent horizontal arrays and serves as a means 1) to move media elements and robots between adjacent arrays of storage cells, 2) to provide an easy access method for the entry and removal of components from the library, and 3) to provide a method for movement of cartridges and robots between separate library enclosures.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A media library, comprising:
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a first enclosure containing a first plurality of horizontal trays, said first plurality of horizontal trays containing a first array of media elements that are connected to be carried between said first plurality of horizontal trays and a plurality of media players by a first robot;
a second plurality of horizontal trays contained within a second enclosure, said second plurality of horizontal trays containing a second array of media elements that are connected to be carried between said second plurality of horizontal trays and said plurality of media players by a second robot, wherein said plurality of media players are contained in at least one of said first enclosure and said second enclosure; and
a mechanism that carries media elements between said first enclosure and said second enclosure along a cross-enclosure guide rail. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A media library comprising:
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a plurality of robotic units configured to carry media units to and from a media player;
a plurality of media storage trays, each having an array of media elements that are inserted and removed vertically;
a plurality of storage units, each having a first pair of rails configured to carry ones of said plurality of media storage ways and a second pair of rails arranged to carry ones of said robotic units, said robotic units being configured to access ones of said media elements stored in said media storage trays;
a first enclosure that contains a first group of said plurality of storage units, which are arranged in rows and columns, and a first one of said plurality of robotic units;
a second enclosure that contains a second group of said plurality of storage units, which are arranged in rows and columns, and a second one of said plurality of robotic units; and
a mechanism that carries ones of said plurality of media elements between said first enclosure and said second enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification