Patent ID: 6771457
Filing Date: 2004-08-03
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A lockout mechanism for preventing incorrect loading of a digital linear tape cartridge into a slot of a dedicated cell in an input/output station of a device, said cartridge having a right side with a cavity and a door hinge with a gap, comprising:a front lever with a front wing, a front-hinge member rotatably mounted on a front side of the cell, and a leading protrusion extending into the slot when the front wing is rotated toward the slot; a rear lever with a radial arm, a rear-hinge member rotatably mounted on a rear side of the cell, and a trailing protrusion extending into the slot when the radial arm is rotated toward the slot; means for coupling the front and rear levers so that a rotation of the front lever produces a corresponding rotation of the rear lever; and means for preventing closure of a toggle bracket provided to control access to the input/output station when said leading protrusion is out of the slot; wherein the leading protrusion and the trailing protrusion are sized to fit within a clearance defined by said cavity and said gap in the cartridge when the leading and trailing protrusions are fully extended into the slot and the cartridge is passed through the slot.