LIBRARY CARTRIDGE STORAGE AND CONTROL SYSTEM

Abstract: A cartridge handling and storage apparatus for use with a multiple axis cartridge handling system includes a mailbox for receiving and disgorging cartridges from a tape library. The mailbox incorporates an aperture in an exposed face of the library, and a door for blocking access to an interior bay of the tape library which is movable by the cartridge handling system for passing cartridges through the mailbox. An ejecting mechanism is provided for cartridges inserted into the mailbox by the cartridge handling system and is actuated by the cartridge handling system. Sensors for a tape library closure door and multi-cartridge magazines held in the library provide the ability for configuration control on cartridges inserted to or removed from the library directly bypassing the mailbox.

Description: Library cartridge storage and control system The present invention relates to a cartridge library system, comprising a cartridge library, a mailbox for receiving and disgorging cartridges from the cartridge library and a cartridge manipulation system with translation capability for cartridge handling, said mailbox comprising a mailbox for receiving and disgorging cartridges from the cartridge library and a cartridge manipulation system with translation capability for cartridge handling, said mailbox comprising an aperture in an exposed face of the library system. Such a system is known from US-A-5,502,697. The known system comprises a cartridge transporting mechanism for transporting a cartridge from an cartridge library to a cartridge drive for reading or writing information from said cartridge and a mailbox for inserting cartridges into the library system. Insertion and ejection of cartridges into and from the mailbox is controlled by means of a sensor controlled electrical motor. It is an object of the invention to provide an system according to the preamble which can be manufactured with lower cost and has an improved reliability in comparison with the known system. Thereto, the system according to the invention is characterized in that the mailbox comprises means for blocking access to an interior bay of the tape library, said blocking means being moveable by contact with the cartridge manipulation system for passing cartridges through the mailbox. Due to these measures there is no need for a sensor controlled electrical motor in the mailbox so that the complexity of the system is reduced and consequently the cost for manufacture is reduced and the reliability is improved. A tape storage library incorporating the present invention employs multiple cartridge magazines, each providing vertically distributed slots for cartridge storage. The magazines are arranged in adjacent, horizontal relation providing an x-y array of cartridges in the tape storage library. The magazines are removably restrained in a frame mounted in a front bay of the tape storage library. A cartridge retrieval mechanism positioned in an open bay rearwardly adjacent the magazine frames includes an x-axis frame supporting an elevator platform which incorporates a gripper mechanism for retrieval of individual cartridges. The elevator platform translates along the x-axis frame defining a first motion axis. The x-axis frame is cantilevered from a pillow block assembly which translates along a y-axis rail defining the second axis of motion for the cartridge retrieval assembly. Rotation of the cantilevered x-axis frame about the y-axis rail is restrained by a slotted guide or rolling element mounted proximate one end of the x-axis frame which receives a vertical flange mounted parallel to the y-axis rail. A gripper for cartridge handling is mounted to the elevator. The gripper is aligned with individual cartridges contained within the magazines by the x and y motion of the elevator and similarly positioned for placement of cartridges in a tape transport unit. A plurality of tape transport units is mounted in a bay rearwardly adjacent the bay containing the x-axis frame. The gripper mechanism provides pass through handling of tape cartridges for insertion and removal from the tape transport units. A cartridge handling and storage apparatus for a tape library incorporating the present invention includes a mailbox for receiving and disgorging cartridges from the tape library . The mailbox includes an aperture in an exposed face of the library and a door for blocking access to an interior bay of the tape library which is movable for passing cartridges through the mailbox. An ejecting mechanism is provided for cartridges inserted into the mailbox by the cartridge handling system. In the library, a plurality of removable cartridge storage magazines are arranged in an x-y array with each having a plurality of vertically spaced cartridge storage slots. A closure bar for preventing removal of cartridges from the front of the magazine is provided which is movable for manually extracting cartridges. Each magazine also includes a mechanism for releasing cartridges from the magazine for extraction from a rear of the magazine. A closure door is provided for the library which is movable from a closed position to an open position with the door covering the fronts of said magazines in the closed position. The manipulating system moves cartridges between the mailbox, magazine storage slots and at least one tape drive internal to the tape library and is translatable in x, y and z axes. For interface with the cartridge handling and storage apparatus, the manipulation system includes a means for moving the blocking door, a means for engaging the releasing means on each magazine, and a means for actuating the ejecting mechanism on the mailbox. In addition, a sensor for presence of the closure bar for each of the plurality of magazines in a closed position is actuated by opening of the closure bar or removal of the magazine. A door position detector is activated by movement of the door from the closed position to the open position and cartridge configuration is assessed by the system responsive to actuation of the closure bar sensor and the door position detector. The present invention is best understood with reference to the following drawings and detailed description wherein FIG. 1 is a front pictorial view of a tape library incorporating the present invention with the front door and left side panel removed; FIG. 2 is a front pictorial view of the tape library of FIG. 1 with two magazines and their associated frames removed to display the cartridge retrieval mechanism; FIG. 3 is a right side pictorial view of the tape library with the side panel removed; FIG. 4 is a left rear perspective of the tape library with the top and left side panels removed to display elements of the mailbox and cartridge retrieval mechanism; FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the cartridge retrieval mechanism; FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the elevator and gripper assembly; FIG. 7a is a left rear perspective view of the mailbox assembly; FIG. 7b is a right rear perspective view of the mailbox assembly; FIG. 7c is a partial perspective view showing the cartridge ejection assembly; Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1-4 disclose a multi-cartridge tape library incorporating the present invention. The library is housed in an enclosure 10 which, in the embodiment disclosed in the drawings, is suitable for mounting in a conventional 19 inch electronic equipment rack. As best seen in FIG. 1, the present embodiment employs three cartridge magazines 12 which are mounted in frames 14 in a front bay or portion of the enclosure designated 16. A cartridge manipulation unit 18 is mounted in a second bay of the enclosure generally designated 20 immediately rearward of the magazine bay. The cartridge manipulation unit includes an x-y position system which incorporates an x-axis frame 22 and a y-axis rail 24. The x-axis frame is cantilevered from a pillow block assembly 26 carried by the y-axis rail. An elevator assembly 28 is supported by the x-axis frame. Translation of the elevator assembly along the x-axis frame defines a first motion axis for the cartridge manipulation system. Translation of the pillow block assembly on the y-axis rail defines a second axis of motion for the cartridge manipulation system. The elevator assembly incorporates a gripper mechanism 30 for retrieval of individual tape cartridges The gripper mechanism is movably mounted to an elevator platform 32 and provides a belt drive train 34 which cooperates with opposing roller assembly 36 Details of the elevator assembly are best seen in FIGS 6a-6h The gripper assembly translates on a third motion axis providing +z and z motion for the cartridge manipulation assembly Relative position of the elevator assembly in the library is best seen in FIG 2 which provides a front isometric view of the enclosure with two magazines and their associated mounting frame removed A tape cartridge 46 shown carried within the gripper assembly A third bay in the enclosure generally designated 38 houses four tape drive units 40 for the embodiment shown in the drawings Each tape drive is integrally mounted in a support chassis received in frame 42 within the enclosure The cartridge insertion aperture 44 of each tape drive unit is exposed to the cartridge manipulation system operating in the immediately adjacent bay An electronics board 48 is mounted in the aft bay of the library enclosure adjacent the tape drive stack in the embodiment shown in the drawings A central processing unit, memory and electronic control circuitry for the library are mounted on the controller board Operator interface is accomplished through a control panel 50 mounted on the front face of the enclosure which includes a display 52 for communication with the operator and input keys 54 for manual input by the operator Communications by the tape library with a user network or other computer devices is accomplished through industry-standard communications interfaces A tape cartridge mailbox assembly 56, seen in FIG 3 and shown in detail in FIGs 7a-7c, is included in the tape library to allow automated handling of cartridges for individual insertion and removal from the library The mailbox assembly incorporates a cartridge receiving aperture 58 on the library front face Cartridges inserted to the mailbox are retrieved by the cartridge manipulation assembly for direct placement in a tape drive assembly or cataloguing in an open magazine slot Similarly, tape cartridges retrieved by the manipulation assembly from the tape drive or a magazine location are unloaded from the library through the mailbox to be retrieved by an operator As best seen in FIG 5, the elevator assembly is carried by the x-axis frame 22, which incoφorates two parallel guide rails 64 One rail is traversed by a linear bearing 66 which is mounted to the top of the elevator platform The second rail is engaged by gliders which are adjustably mounted to bracket 72, which is in turn mounted to the elevator platform. The contact the second rail tangentially at the top of the rail thereby providing tolerance relief for spacing of the guide rails. The entire elevator assembly traverses along the x-axis frame while the x-axis frame is in turn translated along the y-axis rail for positioning of the gripper assembly in an x-y plane for cartridge manipulation alignment. The gripper shown in FIG. 6 is movable bidirectional ly relative to the elevator platform in a +z and -z direction, as will be described in greater detail subsequently. A traction assembly having a friction drive belt and cooperating reaction rollers 106, mounted in spaced relation to receive a cartridge between the belt and rollers, provides the capability to frictionally engage cartridges in the library array and draw them through the gripper. The gripper belt drive train 34 incorporates peripheral rollers 74 which are mounted on pivoting brackets 76. These brackets are in turn mounted to the gripper frame 78 by pivot pins. Inner rollers are mounted coaxially with the pivot pins. A drive capstan 84 is centrally mounted in the belt drive train, supported by a side cradle. The capstan includes a central drive gear, which engages the gripper belt, and upper and lower bearing mounts carried in the side cradle above and below the drive gear. The capstan shaft extends below the side cradle to engage a pulley belt driven by reversible stepper motor 94, which is mounted to a bottom plate 96 of the gripper frame. Two roll pins are mounted in the side cradle on either side of the capstan, urging the gripper belt onto the drive gear and maintaining belt tension. FIG. 5 displays the features of an x/y positioning system incorporating the present invention. The cantilevered mounting of x-axis frame 22 to y-axis pillow block 26 allows mounting of the x-axis stepper motor 200 substantially within the x-dimension of the frame. X-axis positioning of the elevator assembly is accomplished by the x-axis stepper motor driving lead screw 202 through a drive belt extending between pulleys 204. A lead nut engaging the lead screw is constrained in mounting block 206 which is fixed to the elevator platform 32. Reversible rotation of the lead screw by the x-axis stepper motor positions the elevator assembly at any desired location along the rails 64 in the x-axis frame. Y-axis pillow block 26 incorporates a bearing receiving y-axis rail 24 and a lead nut engaging y-axis lead screw 208. A unitary support bracket 210 mounted to the floor of the tape library structure, as best seen in FIG. 4, supports the bottom of the y-axis rail and a bottom bearing 212 for the y-axis lead screw. A y-axis stepper motor 214 is mounted to an aft portion of the bracket and drives the y-axis lead screw through belt 216. A top bracket 218 mounted to the top of the library enclosure receives the top of the y-axis rail and houses a top bearing 220 for the y-axis lead screw Rotation of the x-axis frame about the y-axis rail is prevented by slotted ghdei 222 which is received on vertical flange 224 extending between the floor and top of the library enclosure as best seen in FIG 1 The slotted glider or, alternatively, a rolling element, is attached to the back plate 226 of the x-axis frame proximate a first end plate 228 of the x-axis frame The slotted glider provides for dimensional tolerance relief between the y axis rail and the vertical antirotation flange The back plate 226 is mounted to pillow block 26 A second end plate 230 completes the x-axis frame with parallel guide rails 64 and x- axis lead screw 202 supported and constrained intermediate the end plates The mailbox assembly previously described with respect to FIG 3 is shown in detail in FIG 7 In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the mailbox assembly is mounted in the tape library enclosure above the cartridge magazine frame The mailbox assembly comprises a cartridge receiving box 300 having a front frame 302 mounted substantially flush with the front face of the tape library enclosure exposing the cartridge insertion and removal aperture 58, best seen in FIG 1 As shown in FIGS 7a and 7b, the front frame of the mailbox incorporates a mounting tab 304 to secure the mailbox to the front face of the tape library Left side 306 and right side 308 extending rearward from the front frame support mailbox top 310 and are attached to mailbox floor 312 A cartridge inserted into the mailbox is received on shelves 314 spaced above the mailbox floor as best seen in FIG 7b A sloping engagement apron on the cartridge spacer shelves accommodates slight misalignment of the gripper assembly during passing of a tape cartridge from the gripper assembly to the mailbox A pivoted door 316, best seen in FIG 7a is attached to the mailbox sides by arms 318 The pivoting door precludes inadvertent access to the interior of the tape library preventing an operator from reaching through an open mailbox, or pushing a tape cartridge entirely through the mailbox A contact lever 320 is attached to the door tor engagement by the cartridge elevator assembly The mailbox door is opened by positioning the elevator below the mailbox and raising the elevator to contact the lever causing the door to pivot to an open position as the elevator aligns the gripper assembly with the mailbox for extraction or replacement of a tape cartridge The mailbox incorporates a detent spring 322, which engages an indentation in the tape cartridge for positioning An operator inserting a cartridge into the mailbox presses the cartridge to the detent, which abuts the end of the cartndge with the mailbox door providing sufficient exposure of the cartridge sides to allow contact by the gripper assembly extended in the -I- z direction A cartridge positioned in the mailbox by the manipulation assembly for removal by the operator is positioned to the inner detent by the gripper assembly. A cam actuated cartridge ejection assembly 326 is then engaged by the gripper to urge the cassette to the outer detent position where it can be grasped by an operator and removed from the mailbox. The cartridge ejection assembly is best seen in FIGS. 7b and 7c. A plunger 328 is reciprocally engaged by a barrel 330, which incorporates a spring urging the plunger into the extended position. A cartridge contact lever 340 extends from the plunger through a linear cam track 342 cut in the barrel wall. With the plunger in the extended position, the cam track rotates or retracts the lever downwardly to a position below the cartridge spacer shelves 314. Upon pressure from the gripper assembly in the + z direction urging the plunger into the barrel, the lever is moved from the downward position cam track portion 344 to an upward position cam track portion 346, which raises the lever into alignment for contact with the rear face of the cartridge. Continued motion by the gripper assembly in the +z direction urging the plunger further into the barrel causes the lever to force the cartridge outward in the mailbox to the outer detent position. Return of the gripper assembly to a zero position on the z-axis allows the plunger to return to its original position causing the lever to rotate downward in the cam track allowing a tape cartridge to be passed through the mailbox. Having now described the invention, as required by the patent statutes, those skilled in the art will recognize modifications and substitutions for the elements of the embodiments disclosed. Such modifications and substitutions are within the scope and intent of the invention as defined in the following claims. For example, the tape cartridges can be replaced by disk cartridges and the tape drives can be replaced by disk drives.

Claims: Claims 1 A cartridge library system, comprising a cartridge library, a mailbox (56) for receiving and disgorging cartridges from the cartridge library (12) and a cartridge manipulation system (20) with translation capability for cartridge handling, said mailbox comprising an aperture (5) in an exposed face of the library system, characterized in that the mailbox comprises means (316) for blocking access to an interior bay ot the tape library, said blocking means being moveable by contact with the cartridge manipulation system for passing cartridges through the mailbox 2 A cartridge library system according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises means (326) for ejecting cartridges inserted into the mailbox, said ejecting means being operative through engagement with the cartridge manipulation system 3 A cartridge library system as defined in claim 1 wherein the mailbox (56) includes a rectangular frame (300), and wherein the blocking means comprises a rear door (316) pivotally mounted to at least one side of the rectangular frame and having a projecting contact lever (320) adapted for engagement by a surface on the cartridge manipulation system whereby translation of the manipulation system subsequent to contact of the lever rotates the door to expose a rear aperture in the frame permitting translation of a cartridge to or from the mailbox 4 A cartridge library system as defined in claim 1 wherein the mailbox includes a rectangular frame and the ejecting means comprises a barrel (330) incorporating a linear cam track (342), a plunger (328) received within the barrel for reciprocating movement from an extended position to a depressed position, a lever (340) extending from the plunger through the linear cam, the linear cam track urging the lever into a first retracted position with the plunger in an extended condition allowing clear translation of a cartridge through the mailbox frame and urging the lever into a second position during motion of the plunger from said extended position to said depressed position for contact of a rear face of a cartridge present in the mailbox frame, said lever (340) urging the cartridge outwardly from the mailbox frame upon continued motion of the plunger toward the depressed position, and means tor operative engagement of the plunger (328) by the cartridge manipulation system whereby translation of the manipulation system urges the plunger from the extended position to the depressed position. 5. A cartridge library system as defined in claim 4 further comprising at least one spacer platform (314) mounted to a bottom (312) of the mailbox frame for supporting a cartridge therein and wherein the ejecting means (326) is mounted to the mailbox frame proximate a bottom corner of the frame and the linear cam track (342) is profiled to provide retraction of the lever (340) below a top surface of the spacer (314) with the plunger (328) in the extended position. 6. A cartridge ejection apparatus for a tape library mailbox, the apparatus comprising: a plunger (328) reciprocally engaged by a barrel (330) having a linear cam track (342) extending therethrough; a lever (340) connected to the plunger (328) and extending through the linear cam track (342), said lever retracted by the liner cam track for clearance of a cartridge with the plunger in an extended position and the lever extended for contact with a rear surface of the cartridge during travel by the plunger from the extended position to a depressed position; a cartridge manipulation apparatus including a gripper mechanism (30) moveable for translation in an axis parallel to the plunger; and means for engagement of the gripper and plunger whereby translation of the gripper in said axis urges the plunger from the extended position to the depressed position subsequent to disgorgement of a cartridge from the gripper to the mailbox.

Inventors: LEGER GREGORY S, PATTERSON SCOTT R, PORTER RYAN S, LEGER, GREGORY, S., PATTERSON, SCOTT, R., PORTER, RYAN, S.
Applicants: PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NV, PHILIPS NORDEN AB, PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: G11B17
IPC codes: G11B15, G11B17