Storage System

Abstract

A storage system comprises a first plurality of storage cartridges along an accessible side of a path, a second plurality of storage cartridges along a non-accessible side of the path, and a transport device to move the first and second plurality of magazines around the path. The storage system further comprises a controller that determines the location of a particular cartridge and operates the transport device to move the particular cartridge to the accessible side of the path to gain access to the particular cartridge. The controller can also be configured to re-position a movable accessor device along the accessible side of the path to access the particular cartridge. The ability to move the cartridges on both sides of the path can at least double the accessible storage capacity of the system.

1 . A storage system comprising: 
 a cartridge transport device including a conveyor belt that moves a plurality of cartridges along a path having front side and a back side;    a movable accessor that transports the cartridges wherein the conveyor belt moves a first group of the plurality of cartridges to the back side of the path to allow the movable accessor to access a second group of the plurality of cartridges at the front side.    
   
   
       2 .- 3 . (canceled)  
   
   
       4 . A storage system according to  claim 1  wherein the cartridge transport device further includes: 
 a drive member that moves the conveyor belt; and    a drive motor coupled to receive drive command signals from a controller that actuates the drive member.    
   
   
       5 . A storage system according to claim  1 - 4  wherein each end of the conveyor belt includes a hinge portion that can be fastened to install the conveyor belt in the cartridge transport device.  
   
   
       6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . A storage system according to claim  1 - 4  wherein the conveyor belt includes: 
 a plurality of connectors that attach the plurality of cartridges to the conveyor belt.    
   
   
       8 .- 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein the path is substantially horizontal.  
   
   
       17 . A storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein the path is substantially vertical.  
   
   
       18 .- 25 . (canceled)  
   
   
       26 . A cartridge assembly, comprising: 
 magazines for storing cartridges;    a cartridge transport device including a conveyor belt to move the magazines along a continuous non-circular path;    a movable accessor that transports the cartridges to a read/write device.    
   
   
       27 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the conveyor belt includes connectors to releasably attach the magazines to the conveyor belt.  
   
   
       28 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 26 , wherein: 
 the conveyor belt includes a peg;    at least one of the magazines includes a port that receives the peg to connect the at least one of the magazines to the conveyor belt.    
   
   
       29 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the non-circular path is one of an oval, a rectangle, or a square.  
   
   
       30 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 26 , wherein a first group of at least three magazines aligns along a front side of the path while a second group of at least three magazines aligns along a back side of the path.  
   
   
       31 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 26 , further comprising a drive mechanism including gear wheels that move the conveyor belt, the conveyor belt extending around the gear wheels.  
   
   
       32 . The cartridge assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the magazines are vertically stacked to form a two-sided storage wall, each side of the storage wall including at least three magazines.  
   
   
       33 . A storage system, comprising: 
 plural vertically stacked cartridge assemblies, each cartridge assembly including plural magazines for storing data cartridges and a cartridge transport device having a conveyor belt that moves the plural magazines along a continuous non-circular path;    a movable accessor to transport the plural cartridges to a read/write device.    
   
   
       34 . The storage system of  claim 33 , further comprising a peg that connects one of the plural magazines to the conveyor belt, the peg having a length not greater than an amount of clearance between adjacent stacked magazines.  
   
   
       35 . The storage system of  claim 33 , wherein each magazine includes a port for receiving a peg connected to the conveyor belt.  
   
   
       36 . The storage system of  claim 33 , wherein the non-circular path is rectangular having a first side with at least two of the plural magazines and on an oppositely disposed second side with at least two of the plural magazines.  
   
   
       37 . The storage system of  claim 33 , wherein the conveyor belt forms a continuous loop having at least two oppositely disposed sides each having plural magazines.  
   
   
       38 . The storage system of clam  33 , wherein the magazines removably attach to the conveyor belt.