Patents by Inventor John Ray Blair
John Ray Blair 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: 6867942Abstract: A data storage cartridge having an data storage device, such as an encased magnetic disk drive assembly, is, in one embodiment, of generally an exterior dimensional form factor of a tape cartridge having a leader block with a hole therethrough for engagement by a threading pin. To distinguish the cartridge from a tape cartridge, the cartridge shell comprises a blocking portion at the location of the leader block hole. A transfer station both identifies the cartridge and indicates the presence of the cartridge at an end of travel in a cartridge receiver, employing an optical source and an opposed sensor directed toward the leader block hole when a cartridge is at the end of travel. In another embodiment, an encased magnetic disk drive assembly is supported and mounted in a cartridge shell by a shock mount.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2001Date of Patent: March 15, 2005Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas Robert Albrecht, John Ray Blair, Allen Ronald Cox, David Michael Davis, Paul Merrill Greco, James Mitchell Karp, George G. Zamora
-
Patent number: 6813117Abstract: A shutter mechanism is provided at an access opening in a portable data storage cartridge. Clamshell shutters meet at a common junction in the access opening. Actuation paddles positioned at the clamshell shutters are arranged to, when engaged by actuation pins, pivot the respective clamshell shutters in opposite directions away from the common junction, to expose the access opening. The clamshell shutters are mounted such that, when pivoted away from the common junction, each clamshell shutter remains within the cartridge housing.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2002Date of Patent: November 2, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John Ray Blair, Allen Ronald Cox, David Michael Davis
-
Patent number: 6771448Abstract: A cartridge loading apparatus has at least one movable member with a pin to engage a notch of a cartridge and has a reversible motor. A compliant link has a longitudinal leaf spring resilient beam, and has a laterally extending arm at one end of the beam, forming an “L” shape. The movable member and the motor apparatus are coupled at axes respectively at the other end of the beam and at an end of the arm. Thus, a compression force provides a rotational torque at the arm which flexes the beam outwardly away from a straight line between the axes; and a tension force provides a rotational torque to flex the beam inwardly.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2002Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John Ray Blair, David Michael Davis, William David Lamear
-
Patent number: 6744595Abstract: An indicator comprises a rotary device in the form of a right cylinder arranged to be rotatable in a chamber of a portable data storage cartridge, which has an exterior wall opening to the chamber. A peripheral surface of the rotary device has an encoded pattern of at least one cylindrical surface and a plurality of facets interrupting the cylindrical surface(s). The facets are located at various axial positions, and at various angularly spaced rotational positions, such that, at differing rotational positions of the rotary device, at least one or none of the facets is positioned at the exterior opening.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John Ray Blair, Dennis Hurley Byrne, Allen Ronald Cox, David Michael Davis, James Mitchell Karp
-
Publication number: 20030128466Abstract: A shutter mechanism is provided at an access opening in a portable data storage cartridge. Clamshell shutters meet at a common junction in the access opening. Actuation paddles positioned at the clamshell shutters are arranged to, when engaged by actuation pins, pivot the respective clamshell shutters in opposite directions away from the common junction, to expose the access opening. The clamshell shutters are mounted such that, when pivoted away from the common junction, each clamshell shutter remains within the cartridge housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John Ray Blair, Allen Ronald Cox, David Michael Davis
-
Publication number: 20030128467Abstract: An indicator comprises a rotary device in the form of a right cylinder arranged to be rotatable in a chamber of a portable data storage cartridge, which has an exterior wall opening to the chamber. A peripheral surface of the rotary device has an encoded pattern of at least one cylindrical surface and a plurality of facets interrupting the cylindrical surface(s). The facets are located at various axial positions, and at various angularly spaced rotational positions, such that, at differing rotational positions of the rotary device, at least one or none of the facets is positioned at the exterior opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John Ray Blair, Dennis Hurley Byrne, Allen Ronald Cox, David Michael Davis, James Mitchell Karp
-
Publication number: 20030128455Abstract: A cartridge loading apparatus has at least one movable member with a pin to engage a notch of a cartridge and has a reversible motor. A compliant link has a longitudinal leaf spring resilient beam, and has a laterally extending arm at one end of the beam, forming an “L” shape. The movable member and the motor apparatus are coupled at axes respectively at the other end of the beam and at an end of the arm. Thus, a compression force provides a rotational torque at the arm which flexes the beam outwardly away from a straight line between the axes; and a tension force provides a rotational torque to flex the beam inwardly.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2002Publication date: July 10, 2003Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John Ray Blair, David Michael Davis, William David Lamear
-
Patent number: 6572045Abstract: A tape cartridge which includes an internally disposed rotatable reel, wherein the tape cartridge includes two, three, or a plurality of piloting members disposed adjacent an annular ring to limit the movement of the reel within the tape cartridge. An automated data storage and retrieval system which includes a plurality of Applicants' tape cartridges. A method to prevent damage to a tape medium disposed in a tape cartridge.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2001Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John Ray Blair, Dennis Hurley Byrne, David Michael Davis
-
Publication number: 20020159182Abstract: A data storage cartridge having an data storage device, such as an encased magnetic disk drive assembly, is, in one embodiment, of generally an exterior dimensional form factor of a tape cartridge having a leader block with a hole therethrough for engagement by a threading pin. To distinguish the cartridge from a tape cartridge, the cartridge shell comprises a blocking portion at the location of the leader block hole. A transfer station both identifies the cartridge and indicates the presence of the cartridge at an end of travel in a cartridge receiver, employing an optical source and an opposed sensor directed toward the leader block hole when a cartridge is at the end of travel. In another embodiment, an encased magnetic disk drive assembly is supported and mounted in a cartridge shell by a shock mount.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2001Publication date: October 31, 2002Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Thomas Robert Albrecht, John Ray Blair, Allen Ronald Cox, David Michael Davis, Paul Merrill Greco, James Mitchell Karp, George G. Zamora
-
Publication number: 20020125359Abstract: A tape cartridge which includes an internally disposed rotatable reel, wherein the tape cartridge includes two, three, or a plurality of piloting members disposed adjacent an annular ring to limit the movement of the reel within the tape cartridge. An automated data storage and retrieval system which includes a plurality of Applicants' tape cartridges. A method to prevent damage to a tape medium disposed in a tape cartridge.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2001Publication date: September 12, 2002Applicant: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: John Ray Blair, Dennis Hurley Byrne, David Michael Davis