Patent ID: 6411462
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: G11B

Abstract:
A storage library for housing a plurality of storage media cartridges, the storage library comprising:a housing having an opening; a plurality of cartridge slots each having a first opening and being disposed inside the housing to hold the plurality of storage media cartridges, wherein at least one cartridge slot of the plurality of cartridge slots is a mail slot, wherein the mail slot disposed adjacent to the opening in the housing, is pivotable between a first position and a second position, and has a second opening that is disposed on a top of the mail slot as defined with the mail slot at the first position, wherein manual insertion of one storage media cartridge at a time into the mail slot and manual removal of one storage media cartridge at a time from the mail slot are accomplished at least partially through the second opening in the mail slot while the mail slot is at the second position; and a robotic mechanism disposed inside the housing and operative to move the plurality of storage media cartridges one at a time among the plurality of cartridge slots including the mail slot, wherein the robotic mechanism inserts one storage media cartridge at a time into the mail slot and removes one storage media cartridge at a time from the mail slot through the first opening in the mail slot when the mail slot is at the first position.