Patents by Inventor Thomas David Benson

Thomas David Benson has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Methods and apparatus for transporting data cartridges between adjacent cartridge libraries
    Patent number: 7199967
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for transporting data cartridges between cartridge libraries. A data cartridge is received by a data cartridge transport device, pivoted, and then ejected to a cartridge sleeve of a second cartridge library. In one embodiment, the data cartridge transport device includes a pivot assembly; a cartridge sleeve, mounted to the pivot assembly; a cartridge eject mechanism, operably associated with the cartridge sleeve; a drive assembly; and a clutch assembly. The clutch assembly moves between first and second positions, wherein movement of the clutch assembly to the first position engages the pivot assembly with the drive assembly, thereby enabling pivoting of the cartridge sleeve, and wherein movement of the clutch assembly to the second position engages the cartridge eject mechanism with the drive assembly, thereby enabling ejection of a data cartridge from the cartridge sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas David Benson, Curtis C. Ballard
  • Methods and apparatus for transporting data cartridges between adjacent cartridge libraries
    Publication number: 20040032689
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for transporting data cartridges between cartridge libraries. A data cartridge is received by a data cartridge transport device, pivoted, and then ejected to a cartridge sleeve of a second cartridge library. In one embodiment, the data cartridge transport device includes a pivot assembly; a cartridge sleeve, mounted to the pivot assembly; a cartridge eject mechanism, operably associated with the cartridge sleeve; a drive assembly; and a clutch assembly. The clutch assembly moves between first and second positions, wherein movement of the clutch assembly to the first position engages the pivot assembly with the drive assembly, thereby enabling pivoting of the cartridge sleeve, and wherein movement of the clutch assembly to the second position engages the cartridge eject mechanism with the drive assembly, thereby enabling ejection of a data cartridge from the cartridge sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventors: Thomas David Benson, Curtis C. Ballard
  • Methods and apparatus for transporting data cartridges between adjacent cartridge libraries
    Patent number: 6661602
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for transporting data cartridges between cartridge libraries. A data cartridge is received by a data cartridge transport device, pivoted, and then ejected to a cartridge sleeve of a second cartridge library. In one embodiment, the data cartridge transport device includes a pivot assembly; a cartridge sleeve, mounted to the pivot assembly; a cartridge eject mechanism, operably associated with the cartridge sleeve; a drive assembly; and a clutch assembly. The clutch assembly moves between first and second positions, wherein movement of the clutch assembly to the first position engages the pivot assembly with the drive assembly, thereby enabling pivoting of the cartridge sleeve, and wherein movement of the clutch assembly to the second position engages the cartridge eject mechanism with the drive assembly, thereby enabling ejection of a data cartridge from the cartridge sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas David Benson, Curtis C. Ballard
  • Methods and apparatus for transporting data cartridges between adjacent cartridge libraries
    Publication number: 20030048572
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for transporting data cartridges between cartridge libraries. A data cartridge is received by a data cartridge transport device, pivoted, and then ejected to a cartridge sleeve of a second cartridge library. In one embodiment, the data cartridge transport device includes a pivot assembly; a cartridge sleeve, mounted to the pivot assembly; a cartridge eject mechanism, operably associated with the cartridge sleeve; a drive assembly; and a clutch assembly. The clutch assembly moves between first and second positions, wherein movement of the clutch assembly to the first position engages the pivot assembly with the drive assembly, thereby enabling pivoting of the cartridge sleeve, and wherein movement of the clutch assembly to the second position engages the cartridge eject mechanism with the drive assembly, thereby enabling ejection of a data cartridge from the cartridge sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Thomas David Benson, Curtis C. Ballard