Techniques for Safely Shipping Tape Drives While Mounted Inside a Frame of an Automated Tape Library

Abstract

A system of shipping tape drives while they are mounted to a frame uses shipment brackets to retain the drives within the frame in retracted positions during shipment. The brackets allow the drives to be shipped inside the frame. The brackets hold the drives in the retracted position within the frame by clipping into the drives and the shelves above the drives. Tabs on each bracket snap into a drive such that the drive cannot move with respect to the bracket or the shelf. The drive is pushed into position until the bracket is fully engaged with the shelf above the drive and the tabs have prevented the drive from further insertion. Because the bracket is engaged, the drive no longer can move in or out of the shelf.

1 . A system for reconfiguring an apparatus, comprising:
 a frame having a plurality of shelves;   a plurality of components, each of the components being mounted in one of the shelves of the frame;   a plurality of retention devices, each having a shelf portion that is releasably attachable to one of the shelves, and a component portion that is releasably attachable to one of the components;   the components having a retracted position in respective ones of the shelves inside the frame and being restricted from movement when respective ones of the retention devices engage both the components and said respective ones of the shelves, and an extended position such that at least portions of the components protrude from said respective ones of the shelves outside the frame.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, when the components are in the extended position, the retention devices are stored in the frame for subsequent use in retaining the components in the retracted position. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retracted position is a shipping position for the components, and the extended position is a normal operating position for the components. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in the retracted position, a majority of a weight of the components is located inside the frame such that a location of a center of gravity of the frame provides enhanced stability for the frame. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of components has a plurality of apertures, and each of the component portions of the retention devices comprises a plurality of tabs for engaging the apertures in respective ones of the components. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retention devices are first attached to the components before the components are installed in the retracted position, and the retention devices are removed from the components before the components move to the extended position. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the retention devices acts as a spring that engages a respective one of the shelves without a tool by merely inserting the components into the shelves, and wherein a tool is used to disengage the springs from the shelves. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the retention devices have stops for engaging the shelves and limiting an insertion depth of the components into the shelves. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in the retracted position, the retention devices apply a compression force to the components to reduce motion of the components due to shock and vibration. 
   
   
       10 . A system for increasing the safe handling an apparatus during shipping, comprising:
 a frame having a front, a rear, and a plurality of shelves located inside the frame;   a plurality of drives, each of the drives being mountable in any one of the shelves of the frame;   a plurality of shipping brackets, each having a shelf portion that is releasably attachable to any one of the shelves, and a drive portion that is releasably attachable to any one of the drives;   the drives being positionable in a shipping position by mounting the shipping brackets to the drives and inserting the drives from the rear of the frame into the shelves until the shipping brackets interlock with the shelves to restrict movement of the drives, and the drives being positionable in a normal operating position by partially removing the drives from the rear of the frame, removing the shipping brackets from the drives, and re-inserting the drives from the rear of the frame into the shelves beyond the shipping position.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein, when the drives are in the normal operating position, the shipping brackets are stored inside the frame for subsequent use in retaining the drives in the shipping position. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the drives are located completely inside the frame when in the shipping position, and at least portions of each of the drives protrude beyond the front of the frame when the drives are in the normal operating position. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein, in the shipping position, a majority of a weight of the drives is inside the frame such that a stability of the frame is enhanced. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each of drives has a plurality of apertures, and each of the drive portions of the shipping brackets comprises a plurality of tabs for engaging respective ones of the apertures in the drives. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the shelf portions of the shipping brackets comprises a spring that interlocks with a respective one of the shelves without a tool by merely inserting the drives into the shelves, and wherein a tool is used to disengage the springs from the shelves before the drives can be removed from the frame. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the shelf portions of the shipping brackets apply a compression force to the drives to maintain the drives in the shipping position during shock and vibration. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the shipping brackets are mounted on top of respective ones of the drives and the shipping brackets engage upper features of respective ones of the shelves.