Patents by Inventor DAVID J. ALTKNECHT
DAVID J. ALTKNECHT 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).
-
Patent number: 10658001Abstract: One embodiment provides a system comprising a motor and a disc selector mechanism. The disc selector mechanism is coupled to a bottom of a guide cage and maintained in a space below the cage. The disc selector mechanism comprises a shaft, transmission components, and a slide assembly that is laterally slidable along the shaft in response to the motor driving the transmission components. The slide assembly comprises a slide coupled to the shaft, a pivot bar coupled to the slide, and pick blades pivotally coupled to the pivot bar. A linear motion of the slide assembly along the shaft drives a linear translation of the pivot bar. The linear translation drives a pick blade of the slide assembly to move towards a side of the cage and out of the space and to pivot to a raised position to contact and lift a disc upwards into a disc gripper device.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2019Date of Patent: May 19, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David J. Altknecht, John S. Best, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer
-
Patent number: 10600441Abstract: An apparatus includes a motor configured to drive a driving element within a housing. A pivoting element on a shaft is connected to the housing. The pivoting element is connected to a moveable jaw device and configured to force the moveable jaw device at any given moment towards or away from a face of a storage disc, as the pivoting element pivots about a first axis. A fixed jaw device is connected to the housing. The moveable jaw device and the fixed jaw device form a gripper device configured to clamp a particular portion of opposite first and second surfaces of a storage disc.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2018Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David J. Altknecht, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer
-
Patent number: 10580451Abstract: A disc cassette includes a curved portion. The curved portion includes multiple ribs that define multiple disc slots. The disc slots are configured to hold multiple discs that are spaced apart by the ribs. The disc cassette further includes multiple index features positioned on an inside edge of the curved portion. The index features are configured to allow alignment of a kicker device of a disc retrieval unit (DRU) to a disc of the disc cassette to lift the disc into a disc gripper device without disturbing one or more other discs of the disc cassette that are adjacent to the disc.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2019Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David J. Altknecht, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
-
Patent number: 10546608Abstract: One embodiment provides a system comprising a motor and a disc selector mechanism. The disc selector mechanism is coupled to a bottom of a guide cage and maintained in a space below the cage. The disc selector mechanism comprises a shaft, transmission components, and a slide assembly that is laterally slidable along the shaft in response to the motor driving the transmission components. The slide assembly comprises a slide coupled to the shaft, a pivot bar coupled to the slide, and pick blades pivotally coupled to the pivot bar. A linear motion of the slide assembly along the shaft drives a linear translation of the pivot bar. The linear translation drives a pick blade of the slide assembly to move towards a side of the cage and out of the space and to pivot to a raised position to contact and lift a disc upwards into a disc gripper device.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2019Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David J. Altknecht, John S. Best, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer
-
Publication number: 20190325911Abstract: A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs. A platform portion abuts the curved portion. A movable bale is configured to maintain discs securely in the disc cassette except when rotated off the discs.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2019Publication date: October 24, 2019Inventors: David J. Altknecht, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
-
Patent number: 10438629Abstract: A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs. The disc cassette further includes a bottom side including track connectors configured to position the disc cassette relative to one or more track portions that hold the disc cassette in place. The disc cassette is slideable along the one or more track portions.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2018Date of Patent: October 8, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David J. Altknecht, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
-
Publication number: 20190130939Abstract: A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs. A platform portion abuts the curved portion. A movable bale is configured to maintain discs securely in the disc cassette except when rotated off the discs.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2018Publication date: May 2, 2019Inventors: David J. Altknecht, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
-
Patent number: 10242705Abstract: A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs. A platform portion abuts the curved portion. A movable bale is configured to maintain discs securely in the disc cassette except when rotated off the discs.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2018Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David J. Altknecht, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
-
Patent number: 10186295Abstract: An apparatus includes a first jaw device, a second jaw device, and a disc sensor configured to sense presence of a storage disc between the first jaw device and the second jaw device. The first jaw device and the second jaw device form a gripper device configured to clamp a particular portion of a storage disc including an arc segment along an outer edge of adjacent surfaces of the storage disc.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2017Date of Patent: January 22, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David J. Altknecht, John S. Best, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
-
Patent number: 10127941Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to enable loading and/or unloading of a storage drive. The body has a first end, a second end, and a path extending from the first end to the second end. The body is configured to receive the computer readable storage device and maintain the computer readable storage device in a first position. The body is configured to passively change orientation from a first orientation to a second orientation responsive to contact from the computer readable storage device. The first orientation maintains the first position of the computer readable storage drive and the second orientation facilitates traversal of the computer readable storage device along the path.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2017Date of Patent: November 13, 2018Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David J. Altknecht, John S. Best, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler
-
Publication number: 20180294009Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to enable loading and/or unloading of a storage drive. The body has a first end, a second end, and a path extending from the first end to the second end. The body is configured to receive the computer readable storage device and maintain the computer readable storage device in a first position. The body is configured to passively change orientation from a first orientation to a second orientation responsive to contact from the computer readable storage device. The first orientation maintains the first position of the computer readable storage drive and the second orientation facilitates traversal of the computer readable storage device along the path.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 10, 2017Publication date: October 11, 2018Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David J. Altknecht, John S. Best, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler
-
Publication number: 20180211691Abstract: A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs. A platform portion abuts the curved portion. A movable bale is configured to maintain discs securely in the disc cassette except when rotated off the discs.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2018Publication date: July 26, 2018Inventors: David J. Altknecht, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
-
Patent number: 9984722Abstract: A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs. A platform portion abuts the curved portion. A movable bale is configured to maintain discs securely in the disc cassette.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2017Date of Patent: May 29, 2018Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David J. Altknecht, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
-
Patent number: 9741390Abstract: An optical disc drive includes a spindle connected to an optical assembly. A disc clamp device is configured to hold an optical disc on the spindle. A contiguous opening on at least two adjacent sides in a plane of a disc mount position intersect at a common corner of the optical disc drive.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David J. Altknecht, John S. Best, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
-
Patent number: 9741389Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more disc media cassettes configured to store multiple disc-based media. Multiple disc drives are configured to read and write data to the multiple disc-based media. A robotic delivery device is configured to transport a selected disc-based media to and from at least one disc drive of the multiple disc drives, and to transport the selected disc-based media directly to a spindle on the at least one disc drive.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: August 22, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David J. Altknecht, John S. Best, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
-
Publication number: 20170232619Abstract: An apparatus includes a first jaw device, a second jaw device, and a disc sensor configured to sense presence of a storage disc between the first jaw device and the second jaw device. The first jaw device and the second jaw device form a gripper device configured to clamp a particular portion of a storage disc including an arc segment along an outer edge of adjacent surfaces of the storage disc.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: David J. Altknecht, John S. Best, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
-
Publication number: 20170236544Abstract: A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs. A platform portion abuts the curved portion. A movable bale is configured to maintain discs securely in the disc cassette.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2017Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: David J. Altknecht, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
-
Publication number: 20170236545Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more disc media cassettes configured to store multiple disc-based media. Multiple disc drives are configured to read and write data to the multiple disc-based media. A robotic delivery device is configured to transport a selected disc-based media to and from at least one disc drive of the multiple disc drives, and to transport the selected disc-based media directly to a spindle on the at least one disc drive.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2016Publication date: August 17, 2017Inventors: David J. Altknecht, John S. Best, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
-
Patent number: 9672863Abstract: An apparatus includes a motor configured to drive a driving element within a housing. A caliper is connected to the housing and configured to force a first jaw device toward a second jaw device based on movement of the driving element. A disc sensor is configured to sense presence of a storage disc and to limit insertion travel of a storage disc between the first jaw device and the second jaw device. The first jaw device and the second jaw device form a gripper device configured to clamp a particular portion of a storage disc.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: June 6, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David J. Altknecht, John S. Best, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith
-
Patent number: 9633686Abstract: A disc cassette includes a curved portion configured to hold multiple discs and a platform portion abuts the curved portion. The platform portion and the curved portion each include multiple rib pairs configured to separate adjacent discs from touching one another, and to form a disc slot between each rib pair. Disc slots of the platform portion of the disc cassette are configured to provide a guide for disc removal from the disc cassette.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2016Date of Patent: April 25, 2017Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: David J. Altknecht, Donald S. Bethune, William M. Dyer, A. David Erpelding, Steven R. Hetzler, Drew B. Lawson, Daniel F. Smith