公开(公告)号：EP1224665A1

公开(公告)日：2002-07-24

申请号：EP00980232.3

申请日：2000-10-24

Applicant: Storage Technology Corporation

Inventor： OSTWALD, Timothy, C. ,  BENSON, Jon, H.

IPC: G11B15/68 ,  G11B15/22

CPC classification number: G11B17/225 ,  G11B15/6825 ,  G11B15/6835

Abstract: A mail slot mechanism, a small automated storage library incorporating the mail slot mechanism, and method of operating the mail slot mechanism to insert and remove storage media cartridges from a small automated storage library are disclosed. The storage library includes an array of cartridge slots. Each cartridge slot is adapted to hold one storage media cartridge. One or more of these cartridge slots may function as the mail slot. Each mail slot has a top opening and a side opening through which one storage media cartridge can pass. The mail slot is disposed adjacent an opening in the storage library's housing and is pivotable between a user access position and a robot access position. A resilient member biases the mail slot toward the robot access position. A storage media cartridge may be manually inserted and removed through the top opening in the mail slot while the mail slot is at the user access position. The storage library's robotic mechanism may insert and remove one storage media cartridge at a time through the side opening in the mail slot while the mail slot is at the robot access position.

公开(公告)号：EP1218883A1

公开(公告)日：2002-07-03

申请号：EP00970449.5

申请日：2000-09-06

Applicant: Storage Technology Corporation

Inventor： OSTWALD, Timothy, C. ,  PLUTT, Daniel, J.

IPC: G11B17/22 ,  G11B15/68

CPC classification number: G11B17/225 ,  G11B15/68

Abstract: A robotic guidance mechanism for transporting storage media cartridges along linear and curved routes within a data storage library. The guidance mechanism includes a robotic assembly operating on a guide rail (102). Two guides (202, 204) of the robotic assembly move in two guide paths (302, 304) in the guide rail to route and orient the robotic assembly in a plane defined by the guide rail. A third guide of the robotic assembly engages a guide surface on the guide rail to prevent the robotic assembly from rotating out of the guide rail plane. A picker assembly is provided in the robotic assembly to handle one of the storage media cartridges.

公开(公告)号：EP1196917A1

公开(公告)日：2002-04-17

申请号：EP00950500.9

申请日：2000-07-14

Applicant: Storage Technology Corporation

Inventor： OSTWALD, Timothy, C. ,  PLUTT, Daniel, James

IPC: G11B15/68

CPC classification number: G11B15/6805 ,  G11B17/225

Abstract: A system and a method for moving cartridges between individual cartridge libraries (122, 108) of a multi-library system. The system includes one or more transport robots (112, 114), operating on one or more guide structures (100). The transport robots carry the cartridges independently of all individual libraries, except the sending and receiving libraries. Load ports (116, 118, 120, 122, 124) at each library transfer the cartridges between the transport robots and the library's robotic arm. The load ports can also hold the cartridges allowing for asynchronous operations between the transport robots and sending/receiving libraries. The guide structures may be routed through one, two or all three dimensions allowing individual library placements to account for walls, columns, floors, ceilings, and other physical obstacles. One or more controllers may be included to coordinate transport robot and cartridge movement.