Patent ID: 7057848
Filing Date: 2006-06-06
Classification: G11B,H04N

Abstract:
1. A storage library for recording and retrieving information from a plurality of storage media cartridges, the storage library comprising: a housing having a left side, a right side, a front side, and a back side; a left plurality of slots disposed proximate the left side of the housing for holding some of the plurality of storage media cartridges; a right plurality of slots disposed proximate the right side of the housing for holding some of the plurality of storage media cartridges; at least one media drive disposed proximate the back side of the housing; and a robotic mechanism disposed between the left multitude of slots and the right multitude of slots, the robotic mechanism being operative to move the plurality of cartridges between the plurality of slots and the at least one media drive, wherein the robotic mechanism comprises: wherein the left plurality of slots, the right plurality of slots, the at least one media drive and the robotic mechanism are all coplanar with each other and wherein the front side of the housing has an opening, wherein each storage media cartridge has a label side, wherein the left and right plurality of slots and the plurality of storage media cartridges are oriented so that each label side of the plurality of storage media cartridges is visible to an operator through the opening, and wherein each of the left and right plurality of slots are accessible to the operator via the opening for the operator to access the storage media cartridges being held by the left and right plurality of slots without complete entry of the operator into the storage library.