Tape cartridge loader assembly

Abstract

A data archiving apparatus includes an autoloader for automated transfer of data tape cartridges between at least one tape drive and storage locations of at least one cartridge storage magazine. One or more hard disks is mounted within the autoloader apparatus. The hard disk is connected for data transfer between the hard disk and the tape drive so that data caching can be accomplished during the data archiving process. Interface controls for both the tape drive and the one or more hard disks is provided within the housing of the data archiving apparatus to permit simultaneous operation of the hard disk and the tape drive and for data transfer there between. The hard disks may be exchanged by a user to increase data storage capacity.

1 . An apparatus for data archiving, comprising: 
 a housing;    at least one cartridge storage magazine mounted within said housing, said at least one cartridge storage magazine having a plurality of cartridge storage locations adapted for holding data tape cartridges;    at least one tape drive mounted within said housing and operable to receive a data tape cartridge for data transfer between said at least one tape drive and the data tape cartridge;    a cartridge shuttle mounted within said housing and operable to transfer data tape cartridges from ones of said storage slots in said at least one storage magazine and said at least one tape drive; and    at least one hard disk mounted in said housing and connected for data transfer between said at least one hard disk and said at least one tape drive.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 mounting portions within said housing defining a mounting location for said at least one hard disk.    
   
   
       3 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said mounting portions are configured for selective removal of said at least one hard disk from said housing.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a hard disk interface mounted in said housing and connected to said at least one hard disk for control thereof and data transfer therebetween.    
   
   
       5 . An apparatus as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a tape drive interface mounted within said housing, said tape drive interface being separate from said hard disk interface; and    a data connection between said tape drive interface and said hard disk interface.    
   
   
       6 . A method for data archiving, comprising the steps of: 
 transferring data from a computer system or computer network to a hard disk in a data backup device;    loading a tape cartridge from a cartridge storage magazine within said data backup device to a tape drive within said data backup device using an automated cartridge shuttle mounted and movable within said data backup device;    transferring data from said hard disk within said data backup device to said tape cartridge in said tape drive;    unloading said tape cartridge from said tape drive and returning said tape cartridge to said cartridge storage magazine using said automated cartridge shuttle;    loading a further tape cartridge into said tape drive using said cartridge shuttle; and    transferring additional data from said hard disk to said further tape cartridge in said tape drive.    
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 6 , further comprising the step of: 
 keeping a copy of the data transferred to the tape cartridges on the hard disk as a duplicate data copy.