Cartridge-handling apparatus

Abstract

Cartridge-handling apparatus for use in a media storage system. According to an embodiment of the invention, the cartridge-handling apparatus may comprise a platform mounted in the media storage system and movable along a displacement path defined therein. A carriage is mounted to the platform and rotatable about a line normal to the displacement path. In addition, a cartridge-engaging assembly is mounted to the carriage, and faces different directions when the carriage is so rotated. A lift system operatively associated with the cartridge-engaging assembly is provided for vertically positioning the cartridge-engaging assembly relative to the carriage.

1 . A cartridge-handling apparatus for a media storage system, comprising: 
 a platform moveably mounted to said media storage system so that said platform is moveable along a displacement path disposed between opposing storage magazines in said media storage system;    a carriage operatively associated with said platform and rotatable about an axis, the axis being normal to the displacement path;    a cartridge-engaging assembly mounted to said carriage, said cartridge engaging assembly facing different directions when said carriage is rotated about the axis; and    a lift system operatively associated with said cartridge engaging assembly for vertically positioning said cartridge-engaging assembly along the axis.    
   
   
       2 . The cartridge-handling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide system, said guide system defining the displacement path, said platform being mounted to said guide system to move along the displacement path.  
   
   
       3 . A media storage system, comprising: 
 a first cartridge storage magazine;    a second cartridge storage magazine, said second cartridge storage magazine being positioned in generally opposed, spaced-apart relation with respect to said first cartridge storage magazine so that a space is defined therebetween;    a cartridge read/write device positioned in orthogonal relation to said first and second cartridge storage magazines and at one end of the space defined between said first and second cartridge storage magazines;    a platform moveably mounted to said media storage system, said platform being moveable along a displacement path in the space defined between said first and second cartridge storage chambers;    a carriage operatively associated with said platform so that said carriage is rotatable with respect to said platform about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the displacement path;    a cartridge-engaging assembly mounted to said carriage, said cartridge engaging assembly facing different directions when said carriage is rotated about the axis; and    a lift system operatively associated with said cartridge-engaging assembly, said lift system moving said cartridge handling apparatus with respect to said platform along the axis between a raised position and a lowered position.    
   
   
       4 . The media storage system of  claim 3 , further comprising a guide system, said guide system defining the displacement path, said platform being mounted to said guide system.  
   
   
       5 . The media storage system of  claim 3 , wherein the displacement path comprises a generally linear path having opposed side portions and first and second opposed end portions, said first and second cartridge storage magazines being positioned adjacent respective opposed side portions of the displacement path, said cartridge read/write device being positioned adjacent the first opposed end portion.  
   
   
       6 . The media storage system of  claim 3 , wherein the displacement path comprises an L-shaped path having first and second leg portions, said first and second cartridge storage magazines being positioned on opposite sides of the first leg portion of the L-shaped path, said cartridge read/write device being positioned adjacent the second leg portion of the L-shaped path.  
   
   
       7 . The media storage system of  claim 3 , wherein said first cartridge storage magazine defines a first cartridge storage chamber at a first vertical elevation and a second cartridge storage chamber at a second vertical elevation.  
   
   
       8 . The media storage system of  claim 7 , wherein said second cartridge storage magazine defines a first cartridge storage chamber at a first vertical elevation and a second cartridge storage chamber at a second vertical elevation.  
   
   
       9 . The media storage system of  claim 3 , wherein said cartridge read/write device comprises a single capacity drive.  
   
   
       10 . The media storage system of  claim 3 , wherein said cartridge read/write device comprises a multi-capacity drive having a first drive located at a first vertical elevation and a second drive located at a second vertical elevation.  
   
   
       11 . The media storage system of  claim 3 , wherein each of said first and second cartridge storage magazines have a capacity to store six data cartridges therein.  
   
   
       12 . The media storage system of  claim 3 , wherein said media storage system has a height that is substantially equal to two EIA equipment height units.  
   
   
       13 . A media storage system, comprising: 
 a guide system, said guide system defining a displacement path within an interior space defined by said media storage system;    a first cartridge storage chamber positioned within the interior space on a first side of the displacement path;    a second cartridge storage chamber positioned within the interior space on a second side of the displacement path;    a platform operatively associated with said guide system so that said platform is moveable along the displacement path;    a carriage operatively associated with said platform and rotatable about an axis that is normal to the displacement path;    a cartridge-engaging assembly mounted to said carriage; and    a lift system operatively associated with said cartridge-engaging assembly, said lift system moving said cartridge-engaging assembly with respect to said platform along the axis between a raised position and a lowered position.    
   
   
       14 . The media storage system of  claim 13 , wherein the displacement path comprises a generally linear path having opposed side portions and first and second opposed end portions, said first and second cartridge storage magazines being positioned adjacent respective opposed side portions of the displacement path, said cartridge read/write device being positioned adjacent the first opposed end portion.  
   
   
       15 . The media storage system of  claim 13 , wherein the displacement path comprises an L-shaped path having first and second leg portions, said first and second cartridge storage magazines being positioned on opposite sides of the first leg portion of the L-shaped path, said cartridge read/write device being positioned adjacent the second leg portion of the L-shaped path.  
   
   
       16 . The media storage system of  claim 13 , wherein said first cartridge storage chamber is located at a first vertical elevation, said media storage system further comprising a third cartridge storage chamber positioned adjacent said first cartridge storage chamber, said third cartridge storage chamber being located at a second vertical elevation.  
   
   
       17 . The media storage system of  claim 16 , wherein said second cartridge storage chamber is located at the first vertical elevation and further comprising a fourth cartridge storage chamber positioned adjacent said second cartridge storage chamber, said fourth cartridge storage chamber being located at the second vertical elevation.  
   
   
       18 . The media storage system of  claim 13 , further comprising a platform drive system operatively associated with said platform and said guide system, said platform drive system moving said platform along the displacement path.  
   
   
       19 . The media storage system of  claim 13 , further comprising a carriage drive system operatively associated with said carriage, said carriage drive system rotating said carriage with respect to said platform.  
   
   
       20 . The media storage system of  claim 13 , wherein said media storage system has a height that is substantially equal to two EIA equipment height units.