Abstract: The recent trend towards incorporating a higher density of data tracks on magnetic tape has necessitated more accurate mechanisms for positioning tape heads. A system for seeking tracks on a magnetic tape via a fine position adjustment system includes a carriage frame that holds a magnetic tape head. The magnetic tape head reads and writes magnetic tape as the tape passes in close proximity to the tape head. Flexures attach the carriage frame to the tape head permitting movement in a transverse direction normal to the direction of tape travel across the head while restricting movement of the tape head in a direction parallel to tape travel or in a direction normal to the tape surface. A drive mechanism moves the tape head in the transverse direction in response to a control signal. A linear tachometer provides a velocity signal based on the movement of the tape head in the transverse direction.

Abstract: A storage library system for storing cartridges in which each cartridge has a bottom surface with a receiving cavity formed therein includes a magazine having a plurality of cells formed therein for receiving the cartridges. Each cell is provided with a floor having a raised retention member extending therefrom. The retention member is engageable with the receiving cavity of the bottom surface of each cartridge stored in the cells to hold the cartridges and position accurately the cartridges within the cells.

Abstract: A data cartridge shuttle apparatus (100) is used to permit a robotic hand (40) to insert and remove a data cartridge (246) into and out of a manual cartridge drive mechanism (20). A pawl and lever linkage (104) is rotated to open and close a handle (26) of the tape drive mechanism by contact with a pawl stop (134), which is mounted on a spring-biased sliding block/plate assembly (106). The sliding block/plate assembly has a triangular clasp (228) that engages the data cartridge for extraction of the tape cartridge from the drive bay to a point where the robotic hand can grasp and remove it.

Abstract: A storage library system is provided for storing cartridges having cartridge notches formed therein. The system includes a receiver forming an opening therein and includes an actuator member. A magazine is adapted for engagement within the receiver opening. The magazine includes a plurality of cells formed therein for receiving cartridges. The magazine includes a locking member engageable with the actuator member to facilitate locking member movement between locked and unlocked positions with respect to the cartridge notches for automatically locking and unlocking the cartridge in each of the plurality of cells as the magazine is moved with respect to the receiver.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for auditing cartridges and empty cells in a storage library system including a plurality of cells for storing cartridges and further including a robotically actuated hand assembly. A line-scan camera is secured to the hand assembly, and a visible pattern is positioned within each cell such that the visible pattern is readable by the line-scan camera when the line-scan camera is moved to a position adjacent the particular cell if the cell is empty. The visible pattern is positioned such that the presence of a cartridge within the particular cell would prevent viewing of the visible pattern within the cell by the line-scan camera. The line-scan camera is operated in a manner to search for the visible pattern within each cell for auditing numbers of cartridges and empty cells in the storage library system.

Abstract: A storage library system is provided for storing cartridges having cartridge notches formed therein. The system includes a receiver forming an opening therein and includes an actuator member. A magazine is adapted for engagement within the receiver opening. The magazine includes a plurality of cells formed therein for receiving cartridges. The magazine includes a locking member engageable with the actuator member to facilitate locking member movement between locked and unlocked positions with respect to the cartridge notches for automatically locking and unlocking the cartridge in each of the plurality of cells as the magazine is moved with respect to the receiver.

Abstract: A multimedia array (100) is formed from a plurality of compartments (102, 104) that are capable of receiving differently sized cartridges (30, 50, 70) for presentment to a robotic arm (166). The compartments each include a sidewall ramp (150) for use in centering the cartridges in the compartments, and a rearward boss (134) for positioning forward surfaces (32, 52, 72) of the respective cartridges equidistantly (at distance D) from the forwardmost surface (114) of the compartments.

Abstract: A Customer Access Port (CAP) for an automated storage library subsystem which comprises two sliding doors to control operator access to the library. A magazine adapted to hold several storage media cartridges is positioned inside the storage library accessible to both an operator and the robotic mechanism for exchanging storage media cartridges between the operator and the storage library. Both sliding doors are slid between two positions by manual movement of a single knob. In one position, a first door closes to prevent any operator access to the magazine as well as other components inside the library while the second door opens to permit robotic mechanisms inside the library to manipulate storage media cartridges in the magazine. In the second position, the first door opens to permit operator access to the magazine while the second door closes to restrict the operator from accessing other components such as the robotic mechanisms or inventoried storage media cartridges within the library.

Abstract: A slip pallet formed as a square or rectangular sheet of a plastic material having a central body portion on which a load, such as an array of loaded cardboard boxes, is supported and a plurality of lip portions extending outwardly and upwardly from the central body portion wherein at least the central body portion is provided with a plurality of spaced apart dimples formed in the top surface of the central body portions so that a plurality of spaced apart projections extend downwardly from the bottom surface of the central body portion to provide a cushioning support for the load and wherein at least a portion of each projection is a segment of a sphere. In other embodiments, the dimples are integral solid projections, each of which may be provided with a cavity having an opening in the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a continuous extrudate of a heated soft thermoplastic material into a continuous sheet of a cooled rigid thermoplastic material having a plurality of recesses formed in one surface thereof and a plurality of projections formed on the other surface thereof by feeding successive portions of a heated soft extruded thermoplastic material onto successive portions of a forming cylinder having a generally cylindrical outer peripheral surface having a plurality of recesses formed therein and applying a vacuum through the recesses to draw areas of successive portions opposite to the recesses into conformation with the recesses and cooling the thermoplastic material by moving a cooling fluid over the inner peripheral surface of the forming cylinder and removing the successive portions to form a continuous sheet of a rigid thermoplastic material having a plurality of recesses formed in one surface thereof and a plurality of projections formed on the other surface thereof.

Abstract: A corrugated plastic slip pallet is provided and comprises an intermediate corrugated member sandwiched between two generally planar sheet-like panel members and having a flat body portion on which boxes are supported and three lip portions hingedly connected to edges of the flat body portion and forming an included angle therewith of between about 135 and 160 degrees and wherein the hinge connection comprises two spaced apart welded portions extending parallel to an associated edge of the flat body portion and wherein the portions of the intermediate corrugated member and the two generally planar sheet-like panel members between the two spaced apart welded portions are not welded together.