Patent Publication Number: US-6983469-B2

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

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/270,519, filed Feb. 21, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 

   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. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the following the invention will be explained in further detail in conjunction with embodiment examples depicted in the drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective frontal view of a module housing according to the invention, with a partial view of a second stacked module housing; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the front side of the module housing illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the rear side of the module housing illustrated in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of the module housing, with the top cover removed; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of one embodiment of a transfer unit; and 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of the transfer unit illustrated in  FIG. 5 . 
   

   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 housing  10  into 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 housings  10  can be used individually, for example, as a jukebox. Alternatively, it is possible to arrange two or more module housings  10  above one another, whereby a transfer unit can also travel vertically through two or more stacked module housings  10  to transfer disks or tapes between the modules of the various module housings  10 . 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 housings  10  of the system can be stacked on top of one another to stand freely. Preferably, the dimensions of the module housings  10  are such that they can be inserted into a conventional 19-inch rack. 
     FIGS. 1 to 4  show one complete module housing  10  onto which a second module housing  10  has been stacked. The stacked second module housing  10  is shown only partially to allow better visibility of the interior construction of the module housing  10 . 
   The module housing  10  has 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 housing  10  is open on the front side and the rear side and may be closed by the vertical sidewalls  12  on the sides. When the module housing  10  is assembled, the front side of the module housing  10  is accessible to the user. At the front side and parallel to the front side, the module housing  10  has a front chamber  14  that extends over the entire width of the module housing  10 , is open at its front side and its rear side, and is closed on the bottom by a floor plate  16  and on the top by a cover plate  18 . In the rear area of the module housing  10 , a rear chamber  20  is arranged, which is also open on its front side and its rear side, and is closed on the bottom by a floor plate  22  and on the top by a cover plate  24 . The rear chamber  20  extends parallel to the front chamber  14  across the entire width and height of the module housing  10 . The front chamber  14  and the rear chamber  20  are spaced apart such that there is a vertical shaft  26  in the module housing  10  between the front chamber  14  and the rear chamber  20  which is open on the top and the bottom. In vertical direction to the front of the module housing  10 , the front chamber  14 , the rear chamber  20  and the shaft  26  each 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 space  28  is provided in the module housing  10  at the rear side of the module housing  10  behind the rear chamber  20 . 
   As is shown most clearly in  FIG. 1 , storage modules can be inserted interchangeably into the front chamber  14 . The storage modules can be inserted from the open front side of the module housing  10  into the front chamber  14 , or they can be removed from said front chamber  14 . 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 magazines  30  can be inserted side-by-side into the front chamber  14 . In the illustrated example, only one CD magazine  30  is inserted in the center position, while the two side reception positions are free. To insert the CD magazines  30 , guide rails  32  may be arranged on the floor plate  16 , and guide rails  34  may be arranged at the cover plate  18 . The guide rails  32 ,  34  may guide and lock the CD magazines  30  in the front chamber  14 . The CD magazine  30  shown in the illustrated example may be designed in a known manner so that the CD magazine  30  can 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 chamber  14 , 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 magazine  30  shown in the illustration, so that only two such magazines may be inserted side-by-side into the front chamber  14 , if the module housing  10  has a width of 19 inches, for example. The front chamber  14  is accessible to the user at the front side of the module housing  10  so 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 chamber  14  in such a way that the storage media are accessible and can be removed from the shaft  26 . 
   In the rear chamber  20 , 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 chamber  20  depends 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 drives  36 , one DVD drive  38 , a flipper  40  and a CD burner  42  are inserted. The rear side chamber  20  may have vertical guide walls  44  with attached horizontal guide rails  46  for the function modules. The width of the function modules  36 ,  38 ,  40  and  42  may be such that only two function modules can be arranged side-by-side in the width of a 19-inch module housing  10 . In addition to these two function modules, there may be free space  48  in the width of the rear chamber  20  which can be used to house the control electronics. The function modules are inserted in the rear chamber  20  in such a way that they are accessible from the shaft  26  for the transfer of the storage media. 
   The robotics for the operation of the function module and cables may be housed in the reception space  28  arranged behind the rear chamber  20 . Thus, they may be arranged out of sight and protected on the rear side of the module housing  10 , facing away from the user. 
   The rear chamber  20  may 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 chamber  20  to insert function modules and part to insert storage modules. This may increase the storage capacity of the system. If several module housings  10  are stacked in the jukebox system, the option shown in the illustration is particularly suitable to use the rear chamber  20  of a module housing to receive function modules and, in case of stacked additional module housings  10 , provide the front chamber  14  as well as the rear chamber  20  exclusively 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 chamber  20  is provided to receive CD magazines  30  in the same way as the front chamber  14  when the upper module housing  10  is stacked, which is apparent because the floor plate  20  of the rear chamber  20  has the same guide rails  32  as the floor plate  16  of the front chamber  14 . 
   A transfer unit  50 , which is shown separately in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , is arranged in the open center shaft  26  of the module housing  10 . The transfer unit  50  removes 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 unit  50  has an elevator  52 . The elevator  52  has side bearers  54  that are connected by a cross strut  56  and guide rods  58 . The elevator  52  is arranged horizontally and parallel to the chambers  14  and  20  in the shaft  26  so that its side bearers  54  are adjacent to the sidewalls  12  of the module housing  10 . In the side bearers  54 , a spindle  60  is arranged to rotate therewith, which can be controlled and driven by means of an electrical step motor  62 . At both ends of the spindle  60 , which project past the side bearers  54 , one each pinion gear  64  is attached. Furthermore, two guide rollers  66  are run on the outside of the side bearers  54  to freely rotate therewith. 
   At the interior side of the side walls  12  of the module housing  10 , a rack  68  and a guide bead  70  are arranged parallel side-by-side in the area of the shaft  26  vertically across the entire height of the side walls  12 . The elevator  52  engages with the pinion gears  64  of its spindle  60  in the racks  68 . Each of guide rollers  66  rests on the guide beads  70  with both sides. If the step motor  62  causes the spindle  60  to turn, the elevator runs up or down in the racks  68  by means of the pinion gears  64 , depending on the turning direction of the spindle  60 . In this way, the elevator  52  is guided by the guide rollers  66 . Because each of the racks  68  and the guide beads  70  are guided to the upper and the lower edge of the open shaft  26 , the racks  68  and the guide beads  70  of the stacked module housings  10  are in true alignment when the module housings  10  are stacked, as is shown in particular in the  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Thus, the elevator  52  can travel in the shafts  26  of the stacked module housings  10  vertically across several module housings  10 . 
   A carriage  72  that can travel horizontally is arranged in the elevator  52 . The carriage  72  is guided on the guide beads  58  and is driven by means of an electrical step motor that engages through a pinion gear  74  into a rack  76 , which is arranged at the cross strut  56 . By means of the step motor, the carriage  72  can travel horizontally in the elevator  52 . The vertical travel of the elevator  52  in one or more stacked module housings  10  and the horizontal travel of the carriage  72  in the elevator  52 , allow a controlled positioning of the carriage at each module in the front chamber  14  and the rear chamber  20  of each module housing  10 . The power supply for the electrical motors and the control of the transfer unit  50  may be provided through a conductor rail  78  that runs parallel to the rack  68  and the guide bead  70  on an interior side wall  12  of the module housing  10 . The drive control of the transfer unit  50  may be wireless, for example, through infrared signals. Thus, the transfer unit  50  can travel in a way that no problems associated with cables being dragged along are encountered. It is possible to stack the module housings  10  and to achieve a controlled travel of the transfer unit  50  through several module housings  10  without requiring additional connections or cables in the assembly of the module housing  10 . 
   The carriage  72  may have a grip mechanism  80  that 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 carriage  72  may be positioned in front of a storage module according to a control command. By means of the grip mechanism  80 , a storage medium (e.g., disk, tape) may be pulled out of the storage module and positioned on the carriage  72 . According to a control command, the carriage  72  may 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 mechanism  80  may 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 carriage  72 . The carriage  72  may then travel in front of a triggered storage module to again deposit the storage medium in the storage module by means of the grip mechanism  80 . 
   If the function module is a flipper  40  that turns over a disk, the disk may be transferred to the flipper  40  by means of the carriage  72  and handed off to the flipper  40 . Then the elevator  52  may travel vertically until the carriage  72  has sufficient vertical distance for the flipper  40  to turn over the disk around a horizontal axis. Then the elevator  52  may again travel vertically to the flipper  40  so that the grip mechanism  80  can take the now turned disk from the flipper  40 . 
   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 housings  10  arranged above one another, it is also possible for two or more transfer units  50 , for example for various storage media, to travel above one another in the same racks  68  and guide beads  70 . 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. 
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
                 
             
             
               List of reference symbols 
             
             
                 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
          
             
                 
               10 
               module housing 
             
             
                 
               12 
               side walls 
             
             
                 
               14 
               front chamber 
             
             
                 
               16 
               floor plate 
             
             
                 
               18 
               cover plate 
             
             
                 
               20 
               rear chamber 
             
             
                 
               22 
               floor plate 
             
             
                 
               24 
               cover plate 
             
             
                 
               26 
               shaft 
             
             
                 
               28 
               reception space 
             
             
                 
               30 
               CD magazine 
             
             
                 
               32 
               guide rails (10) 
             
             
                 
               34 
               guide rails (18) 
             
             
                 
               36 
               CD drive 
             
             
                 
               38 
               DVD drive 
             
             
                 
               40 
               flipper 
             
             
                 
               42 
               CD burner 
             
             
                 
               44 
               guide walls 
             
             
                 
               46 
               guide rails 
             
             
                 
               48 
               space for electronics 
             
             
                 
               50 
               transfer unit 
             
             
                 
               52 
               elevator 
             
             
                 
               54 
               side bearers 
             
             
                 
               56 
               cross strut 
             
             
                 
               58 
               guide rods 
             
             
                 
               60 
               spindle 
             
             
                 
               62 
               step motor 
             
             
                 
               64 
               pinion gear 
             
             
                 
               66 
               guide rollers 
             
             
                 
               68 
               rack 
             
             
                 
               70 
               guide beads 
             
             
                 
               72 
               carriage 
             
             
                 
               74 
               pinion gear 
             
             
                 
               76 
               rack 
             
             
                 
               78 
               conductor rail 
             
             
                 
               80 
               grip mechanism