Magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus

Abstract

The invention provides a magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus wherein the space can be utilized effectively to allow accommodation of an increased number of tape cartridges. The magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus includes a cartridge magazine for removably accommodating a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges in a plurality of stages in a vertical direction therein, a magnetic tape deck for reading or writing data from or onto a magnetic tape cartridge loaded therein, a hand apparatus disposed on the front side of the magnetic tape deck, and a magazine feeding mechanism for feeding the cartridge magazine forwardly or rearwardly on one of the left and right sides of the hand apparatus. The hand apparatus is operable to insert or take out a magnetic tape cartridge into or from the cartridge magazine and transport the magnetic tape cartridge between the cartridge magazine and the magnetic tape deck.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus, comprising: 
 a cartridge magazine for removably accommodating a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges in a plurality of stages in a vertical direction therein;    a magnetic tape deck for reading or writing data from or onto a magnetic tape cartridge loaded therein;    a hand apparatus disposed on the front side of said magnetic tape deck; and    a magazine feeding mechanism for feeding said cartridge magazine forwardly or rearwardly on one of the left and right sides of said hand apparatus;    said hand apparatus being operable to insert or take out a magnetic tape cartridge into or from said cartridge magazine and transport the magnetic tape cartridge between said cartridge magazine and said magnetic tape deck.    
     
     
         2 . A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an additional cartridge magazine, and an additional magazine feeding mechanism for transporting a magnetic tape cartridge between said additional cartridge magazine and said magnetic tape deck, the two cartridge magazines being disposed on the opposite left and right sides of said hand apparatus.  
     
     
         3 . A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a second additional cartridge magazine disposed on the front side of said hand apparatus.  
     
     
         4 . A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said cartridge magazine has a plurality of slots formed therein each for removably receiving a magnetic tape cartridge in a horizontal posture, said slots being disposed in a plurality of stages in a vertical direction and in a plurality of rows along a direction along which said magazine feeding mechanism feeds said magnetic cartridge magazine.  
     
     
         5 . A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said slots of said cartridge magazine have a plurality of different sizes.  
     
     
         6 . A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said hand apparatus includes a picker apparatus for grasping and removably inserting a magnetic tape cartridge into said cartridge magazine and loading the magnetic tape cartridge into said magnetic tape deck, a lifter mechanism for moving said picker apparatus upwardly and downwardly, and a swiveling mechanism for changing the direction of the magnetic tape cartridge grasped by said picker apparatus.  
     
     
         7 . A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said magazine feeding mechanism feeds said cartridge magazine forwardly or rearwardly along a rail.  
     
     
         8 . A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said magazine feeding mechanism includes a toothed rack formed on a bottom portion of said cartridge magazine, a drive gear for meshing with said toothed rack, and a motor for rotating said drive gear.  
     
     
         9 . A magnetic tape cartridge library apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said magazine feeding mechanism includes a movable table movable forwardly and rearwardly along a rail with a cartridge magazine placed thereon and having a toothed rack provided at a bottom portion thereof, a drive gear for meshing with said toothed rack, and a motor for rotating said drive gear.