Abstract: A data storage and retrieval system minimizes mechanical complexity and maximizes system flexibility by providing a modular rack mountable system which includes a passive transfer carriage for transferring media elements within the system. An active transfer carriage including a picker which is adapted to engage a notch on the media elements is also provided. The active transfer carriage may transfer media elements to the passive transfer carriage, and may also retrieve them from the passive transfer carriage. Drive actuation is automated with an extendable plunger which is adapted to engage an end of an actuation arm coupled to a media element reader such as a tape drive.

Abstract: A vending machine has an outer housing with a hollow interior and a manual retrieval opening. At least one tray is removably supported by the housing inside the interior thereof. The tray has a plurality of storage bins, each bin being dimensioned for receiving a plurality of items to be dispensed. Each bin has a movably actuable mechanism for ejecting a single unit of the item therefrom. A manually operable coin mechanism is mounted to an exterior of the housing for receiving a predetermined number and size of coins. Insertion of the proper coins into the coin mechanism permits a single actuation thereof through a predefined range of motion. A manually operable selector mechanism is mounted to the exterior of the housing for designating the item to be dispensed when moved into engagement with the ejecting mechanism of a preselected one of the plurality of storage bins.

Abstract: A plurality of modules are removeably mounted in a rack. At least one of the modules is a drive module including a tape drive and at least one of the modules is a storage module including a carrousel for removeably receiving a plurality of magnetic tape cartridges. The storage module includes mechanisms for rotating the carrousel to present a selected cartridge to a withdrawal and replacement position. The drive and storage modules have track segments which are aligned in end-to-relation. A robot carries the selected cartridge between the carrousel and the tape drive. The robot includes a carriage mounted for traveling along the track segments and a gripper for gripping and releasing the selected cartridge. The system further comprises a control and sequencing circuit for rotating the carrousel, moving the carriage and operating the gripper.

Abstract: A tachometer assembly includes a precision manufactured hub assembly or member having a cylindrical hub and a backing plate for mounting on a shaft of a drive motor, a fine line disc having a plurality of radial reference lines circumferentially disposed about an outer periphery thereof, a hub bore formed in the disc concentric with the reference lines and sized to fit the cylindrical hub within two thousandths of an inch, and a circular spring retainer having a central bore with internal teeth for press fitting on the cylindrical hub and an annular rim for biasing the disc into support engagement with the backing plate.

Abstract: A tape transport for a leader block tape cartridge has a threading mechanism including a threader pin for engaging the leader block and extracting it from the cartridge after it has been loaded into the transport adjacent a first end of a tape path. The threading mechanism pulls the leader block along the tape path past a read/write head, and inserts the leader block into a take-up hub adjacent a second end of the tape path during a threading operation. During a rewinding operation, the threading mechanism extracts the leader block from the take-up hub, pulls the leader block past the read/write head and inserts the leader block back into the cartridge. A first guide assembly adjacent the first end of the tape path engages and guides the leader block to ensure proper insertion thereof back into the cartridge during the rewinding operation.

Abstract: A transport for a rectangular tape cartridge enclosing a supply reel having a web of magnetic tape wound thereabout terminating in a free end attached to a leader block. The illustrated embodiment of the transport is designed to fit within the computer industry standard 51/4-inch form factor and utilizes the 1/2-inch tape cartridge defined in Proposed American National Standard X3B5/85-075. An elongate rectangular housing has internal mechanisms for supporting the tape cartridge therein and referencing the cartridge off its side surfaces. The cartridge is manually inserted into the housing through a slot in a face panel extending across a transverse end of the housing. Electro-mechanical assemblies lock the cartridge in place and complete the loading sequence by engaging a drive chuck with the hub of the supply reel, extracting the leader block from the cartridge, and pulling the leader block to the take-up hub to thread the tape along a tape path.

Abstract: A transport for a rectangular tape cartridge enclosing a supply reel having a web of magnetic tape wound thereabout terminating in a free end attached to a leader block. The illustrated embodiment of the transport is designed to fit within the computer industry standard 51/4-inch form factor and utilizes the 1/2-inch tape cartridge defined in Proposed American National Standard X3B5/85-075. An elongate rectangular housing has internal mechanisms for supporting the tape cartridge therein and referencing the cartridge off its side surfaces. The cartridge is manually inserted into the housing through a slot in a face panel extending across a transverse end of the housing. Electro-mechanical assemblies lock the cartridge in place and complete the loading sequence by engaging a drive chuck with the hub of the supply reel, extracting the leader block from the cartridge, and pulling the leader block to the take-up hub to thread the tape along a tape path.