Patent ID: 6865046
Filing Date: 2005-03-08
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
1. An automatic library for cartridges of a data storage tape, comprising: at least one drive for cartridges, said cartridges having the form of flat right parallelepiped, each said drive having a cartridge pocket adapted to receive a cartridge; and a magazine, said magazine comprising one or more receivers for said cartridges, each of said receivers being adapted to revolve on a closed path of revolution about said at least one drive, wherein the cartridges are disposed in the receivers of the magazine and in the cartridge pocket of the at least one drive standing on end with respect to the plane of the path of revolution of the magazine; wherein the magazine comprises revolving carriers which contain the cartridges, at least two cartridges are disposed on each carrier and the carriers are positionable offset parallel to a front side comprising the cartridge pocket of the at least one drive, such that each of the cartridges disposed on the carrier is positionable in front of the cartridge pocket of each drive; wherein said cartridge pocket of a drive and the receivers of the magazine are disposed such that the magazine is positionable with one of said receivers being aligned with the cartridge pocket of a drive along an insertion axis for transfer of a cartridge, wherein said at least one drive has a plurality of side walls enclosing said drive within said path of revolution, said at least one drive further having a diagonal dimension, and wherein the path of revolution of the magazine comprises a rectangular shape around said at least one drive.