公开(公告)号：WO2002045084A3

公开(公告)日：2002-06-06

申请号：PCT/US2001/044407

申请日：2001-11-27

Applicant: STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION

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

IPC: G11B17/22

Abstract: A method and system for sharing robotic mechanisms (14) between physically remote storage libraries in an automated storage library system includes routing robotic mechanism guide structures (46,48) between the storage libaries. The guide structures run through robotic mechansim transfer ports located on the sides of the housing enclosures of the storage libraries. A robotic mechanism within an first storage library moves through the transfer port of the enclosure of the first storage library onto the guide structure. The robotic mechanism then moves out of the enclosure of the first storage library along the guide structure towards a second storage library. The robotic mechanism then moves along the guide structure through the transfer port of the enclosure of the second storage library and into the second storage library for performing operations such as accessing media objects within the second storage library.

公开(公告)号：EP1214711A1

公开(公告)日：2002-06-19

申请号：EP00965175.3

申请日：2000-09-19

Applicant: Storage Technology Corporation

Inventor： OSTWALD, Timothy C.

IPC: G11B15/68 ,  G11B17/22

CPC classification number: G11B15/68 ,  G11B17/225

Abstract: The present invention is an automated storage library suitable for rack-mount and desktop installations. Storage media cartridges and a robotic mechanism that transport the storage media cartridges internal to the library are mounted on a moveable drawer. With the drawer at an internal position, the robotic mechanism transports the storage media cartridges between cartridge slots mounted on the drawer and read-write media drives and other cartridge handling devices not mounted on the drawer. The drawer is capable of moving through an opening in the storage library housing to an external position where the storage media cartridges and the robotic mechanism are readily accessible. At the external position, the storage media cartridges can be inserted and removed from the cartridge slots. The drawer may be detachable from the housing to allow unobstructed access to the components housed in the interior of the storage library.

公开(公告)号：EP1200956A1

公开(公告)日：2002-05-02

申请号：EP00948973.3

申请日：2000-07-26

Applicant: Storage Technology Corporation

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

IPC: G11B15/68 ,  G11B17/22

CPC classification number: H04N1/401 ,  G11B15/68 ,  G11B17/225

Abstract: A storage library suitable for rack-mount and desktop installations. Internally the storage media cartridges and one or more media drives are arranged in a horseshoe configuration. The storage media cartridges are positioned in slots along the left and right sides of the library, and the media drives are positioned adjacent the back side. Additional slots may be provided near the middle of the horseshoe configuration to increase the library's storage capacity. A robotic mechanism is positioned between the two rows of storage media cartridges and operative to transport the storage media cartridges between the media drive and the slots. The slots are arranged so that the storage media cartridges can be installed and removed from the library through an opening provided in the front side of the library. The storage media cartridges are oriented in the slots so that their labels are viewable through the opening. A bar-code reader may be mounted on the robotic assembly to read bar-codes on the labels.