Modular system with multi-drives and multi-magazines for storing data

A modular data storage system is disclosed. The data storage system comprises at least one module housing. Each housing has a front chamber and a rear chamber running parallel to a front side of the module housing and extending across a width of the module housing. An open shaft is arranged between the front chamber and the rear chamber. The shaft extends across the width of the module housing. The front chamber is adapted to receive at least two storage modules adapted to hold storage media, and the rear chamber is adapted to receive at least one function module for the data storage media. At least one transfer unit is arranged in the shaft. The transfer unit has a vertically traveling elevator and a carriage adapted to travel on the elevator between the front chamber and the rear chamber. The carriage has a grip mechanism for the data storage media.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a modular system to store data.

2. Related Art

In electronic data processing, storage media are used for the external storage of data. The data can be recorded on and read from said storage media such as, for example, CDs, DVDs and magnetic tapes. To store large amounts of data, systems are used where a larger number of such storage media are deposited in a magazine. A transfer unit takes the storage media from the magazine and transfers them to a drive where the data are read by the storage media. If the storage media are disks, i.e., CDs or DVDs, such systems are frequently called jukebox systems. If the storage media are magnetic tapes, such systems are frequently called tape libraries.

The known systems of this type have a magazine for a specific type of storage medium and a drive for this type of storage medium. Each system is therefore suitable only for a specific type of storage media. The storage capacity of the system is furthermore limited by the capacity of the magazine.

DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the invention is comprised of a modular system having module housings that can be modularly assembled. Each module housing has a front chamber and a rear chamber, with an open shaft being arranged between the front chamber and the rear chamber. Interchangeable storage modules, which can hold the respective storage media, can be inserted into the front chamber that is accessible from the front side. Function modules, such as the drives for the storage media, may be inserted into the rear chamber. A transfer unit is arranged in the open shaft. The transfer unit has an elevator that can travel vertically. A carriage that can travel horizontally and has a grip mechanism for the storage media is arranged on the elevator. With the vertically traveling elevator and the horizontally traveling carriages on the elevator, the grip mechanism can be driven to any position of the storage module to remove or deposit a respective storage medium. In the same way, the grip mechanism can be driven in front of each function module to deposit or remove the respective storage medium there.

The arrangement of the storage module and the function module in the front chamber and the rear chamber of the module housing and the arrangement of the transfer unit between said chambers results in a compact construction of the module housing and a large storage capacity. Various storage modules can be inserted into the module housing, thus enabling a flexible use of the system for various storage media. Various function modules can be inserted into the rear chamber, with the number of the inserted function modules also being variable. For example, it is possible to insert two drives so that, with an alternating operation of the two drives, the storage media can be read in direct succession and without any time gaps. It is furthermore possible to insert additional function modules into the drives, such as a flipper that turns over two-sided written discs, or a CD burner.

Depending on the space requirement of the function module in the rear chamber, it is also possible to insert additional storage modules in said rear chamber.

The open shaft of the module housing makes it possible to stack two or more module housings on top of one another. The result is an open vertical shaft that passes through all module housings. The transfer unit and its elevator can travel in the through-shaft from one module housing into the module housing above or below, which allows for simple expandability of the system. Particularly, it is possible to stack additional module housings, which are equipped only with storage modules, onto a module housing with function modules. For example, they may have storage modules in the front as well as in the rear chamber. This enables a random expansion of the storage capacity. The modular expansion can be retrofitted without any additional installation effort.

The dimensions of the module housing may be chosen such that it can be preferably inserted into a conventional 19-inch rack.

Referring now to the drawings, a system in accordance with the invention is illustrated. The system comprises a module housing10into which storage modules and function modules can be inserted in a manner corresponding to the requirements of the user. For example, the storage modules can be magazines that hold CDs, DVDs or magnetic tapes. The function modules can be appropriate drives, such as CD drives, DVD drives or tape drives. Likewise, a flipper may be inserted as a function module to turn over disks that are, for example, writeable on both sides. The module housing furthermore has a transfer unit that transfers the disks or tapes between the storage modules and the function modules.

The module housings10can be used individually, for example, as a jukebox. Alternatively, it is possible to arrange two or more module housings10above one another, whereby a transfer unit can also travel vertically through two or more stacked module housings10to transfer disks or tapes between the modules of the various module housings10. This allows a random modular expansion of the number of storage modules and thus the storage capacity, as well as an expansion of the number of the function modules. The individual module housings10of the system can be stacked on top of one another to stand freely. Preferably, the dimensions of the module housings10are such that they can be inserted into a conventional 19-inch rack.

FIGS. 1 to 4show one complete module housing10onto which a second module housing10has been stacked. The stacked second module housing10is shown only partially to allow better visibility of the interior construction of the module housing10.

The module housing10has the form of a cuboid with a width of preferably 19 inches and a height of preferably four to six U-raster units. The module housing10is open on the front side and the rear side and may be closed by the vertical sidewalls12on the sides. When the module housing10is assembled, the front side of the module housing10is accessible to the user. At the front side and parallel to the front side, the module housing10has a front chamber14that extends over the entire width of the module housing10, is open at its front side and its rear side, and is closed on the bottom by a floor plate16and on the top by a cover plate18. In the rear area of the module housing10, a rear chamber20is arranged, which is also open on its front side and its rear side, and is closed on the bottom by a floor plate22and on the top by a cover plate24. The rear chamber20extends parallel to the front chamber14across the entire width and height of the module housing10. The front chamber14and the rear chamber20are spaced apart such that there is a vertical shaft26in the module housing10between the front chamber14and the rear chamber20which is open on the top and the bottom. In vertical direction to the front of the module housing10, the front chamber14, the rear chamber20and the shaft26each have a depth that corresponds to the dimensions of the storage module and the function module or the data storage media (e.g., disks, tapes). Furthermore, a reception space28is provided in the module housing10at the rear side of the module housing10behind the rear chamber20.

As is shown most clearly inFIG. 1, storage modules can be inserted interchangeably into the front chamber14. The storage modules can be inserted from the open front side of the module housing10into the front chamber14, or they can be removed from said front chamber14. The storage modules are preferably designed as magazines, each of which can accommodate several disks or tapes, for example. In the embodiment shown in the figures, three CD magazines30can be inserted side-by-side into the front chamber14. In the illustrated example, only one CD magazine30is inserted in the center position, while the two side reception positions are free. To insert the CD magazines30, guide rails32may be arranged on the floor plate16, and guide rails34may be arranged at the cover plate18. The guide rails32,34may guide and lock the CD magazines30in the front chamber14. The CD magazine30shown in the illustrated example may be designed in a known manner so that the CD magazine30can accommodate a plurality of horizontally stacked “naked” CDs. It is readily apparent that it is also possible to insert magazines for other data storage media into the front chamber14, such as magazines for CDs or DVDs in caddies, or magazines where three to five magnetic tapes are arranged above one another. Magazines for caddies or tapes have a greater width than the CD magazine30shown in the illustration, so that only two such magazines may be inserted side-by-side into the front chamber14, if the module housing10has a width of 19 inches, for example. The front chamber14is accessible to the user at the front side of the module housing10so that the user can switch the storage modules at any time to have other stored data available in the system. The storage modules are inserted into the front chamber14in such a way that the storage media are accessible and can be removed from the shaft26.

In the rear chamber20, function modules may be inserted to execute the respective desired functions. Such function modules may be drives for CDs, DVDs or tapes, for example. Furthermore, it is possible to insert a flipper as a function module to turn over disks that contain data on both sides. It is also possible to insert other devices such as a CD burner or a printer as function modules. The number of function modules that can be inserted into the rear chamber20depends on the width and height of the function modules. In the illustrated embodiment, six function modules are inserted, whereby two groups of function modules are inserted side-by-side and each group is comprised of three function modules arranged on top of one another. For example, two CD drives36, one DVD drive38, a flipper40and a CD burner42are inserted. The rear side chamber20may have vertical guide walls44with attached horizontal guide rails46for the function modules. The width of the function modules36,38,40and42may be such that only two function modules can be arranged side-by-side in the width of a 19-inch module housing10. In addition to these two function modules, there may be free space48in the width of the rear chamber20which can be used to house the control electronics. The function modules are inserted in the rear chamber20in such a way that they are accessible from the shaft26for the transfer of the storage media.

The robotics for the operation of the function module and cables may be housed in the reception space28arranged behind the rear chamber20. Thus, they may be arranged out of sight and protected on the rear side of the module housing10, facing away from the user.

The rear chamber20may be used not only to receive function modules, but also to receive storage modules. For example, it is possible to use part of the rear chamber20to insert function modules and part to insert storage modules. This may increase the storage capacity of the system. If several module housings10are stacked in the jukebox system, the option shown in the illustration is particularly suitable to use the rear chamber20of a module housing to receive function modules and, in case of stacked additional module housings10, provide the front chamber14as well as the rear chamber20exclusively for the reception of storage modules. This allows an almost limitless expansion of the storage capacity of the system. Accordingly, in the embodiment shown in the illustration, the rear chamber20is provided to receive CD magazines30in the same way as the front chamber14when the upper module housing10is stacked, which is apparent because the floor plate20of the rear chamber20has the same guide rails32as the floor plate16of the front chamber14.

A transfer unit50, which is shown separately inFIGS. 5 and 6, is arranged in the open center shaft26of the module housing10. The transfer unit50removes the data storage media (e.g., disks, tapes) from the storage modules and transports them to the function modules, and vice versa it again transports the data storage media from the function modules back to the storage modules.

The transfer unit50has an elevator52. The elevator52has side bearers54that are connected by a cross strut56and guide rods58. The elevator52is arranged horizontally and parallel to the chambers14and20in the shaft26so that its side bearers54are adjacent to the sidewalls12of the module housing10. In the side bearers54, a spindle60is arranged to rotate therewith, which can be controlled and driven by means of an electrical step motor62. At both ends of the spindle60, which project past the side bearers54, one each pinion gear64is attached. Furthermore, two guide rollers66are run on the outside of the side bearers54to freely rotate therewith.

At the interior side of the side walls12of the module housing10, a rack68and a guide bead70are arranged parallel side-by-side in the area of the shaft26vertically across the entire height of the side walls12. The elevator52engages with the pinion gears64of its spindle60in the racks68. Each of guide rollers66rests on the guide beads70with both sides. If the step motor62causes the spindle60to turn, the elevator runs up or down in the racks68by means of the pinion gears64, depending on the turning direction of the spindle60. In this way, the elevator52is guided by the guide rollers66. Because each of the racks68and the guide beads70are guided to the upper and the lower edge of the open shaft26, the racks68and the guide beads70of the stacked module housings10are in true alignment when the module housings10are stacked, as is shown in particular in theFIGS. 2 and 3. Thus, the elevator52can travel in the shafts26of the stacked module housings10vertically across several module housings10.

A carriage72that can travel horizontally is arranged in the elevator52. The carriage72is guided on the guide beads58and is driven by means of an electrical step motor that engages through a pinion gear74into a rack76, which is arranged at the cross strut56. By means of the step motor, the carriage72can travel horizontally in the elevator52. The vertical travel of the elevator52in one or more stacked module housings10and the horizontal travel of the carriage72in the elevator52, allow a controlled positioning of the carriage at each module in the front chamber14and the rear chamber20of each module housing10. The power supply for the electrical motors and the control of the transfer unit50may be provided through a conductor rail78that runs parallel to the rack68and the guide bead70on an interior side wall12of the module housing10. The drive control of the transfer unit50may be wireless, for example, through infrared signals. Thus, the transfer unit50can travel in a way that no problems associated with cables being dragged along are encountered. It is possible to stack the module housings10and to achieve a controlled travel of the transfer unit50through several module housings10without requiring additional connections or cables in the assembly of the module housing10.

The carriage72may have a grip mechanism80that is driven by an electrical motor and controlled electronically, for example. Because the construction of the motor is not an object of the invention, it is not described here in detail. The function of the grip mechanism is described below in the following description of the method of operation.

In the system, the carriage72may be positioned in front of a storage module according to a control command. By means of the grip mechanism80, a storage medium (e.g., disk, tape) may be pulled out of the storage module and positioned on the carriage72. According to a control command, the carriage72may then travel to a function module (for example, a drive) and may be positioned in front of the function module. The function module may be operated by the robotics to eject the tray of the function module. The grip mechanism80may transfer the storage medium to the tray so that the storage medium can be inserted into the function module. Similarly, the function module can transfer a storage medium to the positioned carriage72. The carriage72may then travel in front of a triggered storage module to again deposit the storage medium in the storage module by means of the grip mechanism80.

If the function module is a flipper40that turns over a disk, the disk may be transferred to the flipper40by means of the carriage72and handed off to the flipper40. Then the elevator52may travel vertically until the carriage72has sufficient vertical distance for the flipper40to turn over the disk around a horizontal axis. Then the elevator52may again travel vertically to the flipper40so that the grip mechanism80can take the now turned disk from the flipper40.

As described, a modular system in accordance with the invention can be operated as jukebox with CD- and/or DVD magazines, for example. The modular system can also be operated as a tape library with magnetic tapes. A combination of the two systems is also possible, whereby disk drives as well as tape drives are used.

With several module housings10arranged above one another, it is also possible for two or more transfer units50, for example for various storage media, to travel above one another in the same racks68and guide beads70. This allows for a further increase in capacity, versatility and speed of the system.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that various different modifications and combinations are possible and are contemplated within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims. There is no intention, therefore, of limitations to the exact abstract or disclosure herein presented.