Abstract: Described herein is a mobile data storage magazine for interacting with a docking station. The magazine can include a magazine frame containing a plurality of operatively interconnected disk drives, a first contact element associated with the magazine frame capable of conducting electrical power to at least one of the plurality of disk drives when engaged with a second contact element associated with the docking station wherein the first and second contact elements are adapted to cooperate in a non male/female relationship. The magazine can further comprise a first communication element capable of conducting data between at least one of the plurality of disk drives and the docking station when the first communication element is operatively linked to a second communication element associated with the docking station.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a data cartridge library that, in one embodiment, is comprised of: (a) a frame or cabinet that defines an interior space; (b) a multi-piece magazine that forms a portion of the frame; (c) a drive bay with a full-height drive space that is capable of accommodating a full-height drive and of being altered to accommodate two, half-height drives; (c) a picker that employs a crank that is capable of rotating 360 degrees and that carries a first cam driver that cooperates with a first cam follower to actuate a grasper that is capable of grasping and releasing a data cartridge, and a second cam driver that cooperates with a second cam follower to move the grasper towards and away from a location at which a data cartridge is located; (d) an elevator for moving the picker within a portion of the interior space and that is comprised of a first and second drive systems for respectively driving the first and second ends of an elevator carriage and a shaft for transferring power from t

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a data cartridge library that, in one embodiment, is comprised of: (a) a frame or cabinet that defines an interior space; (b) a magazine; (c) a drive bay; (d) a picker; (e) an elevator for moving the picker; and (f) a robotics module that can be removed from the interior of the frame and is comprised of the picker and a substantial portion of the elevator.

Abstract: The present invention provides a magazine-based library that is capable of operating on a magazine data storage element comprised of a plurality of hard disk drives and an interface that allows data to be transferred between the hard disk drives and a host computer. One embodiment of the library comprises a plurality of shelves that are each capable of supporting at least one magazine data storage element, one or more drives, and a magazine transport that is capable of moving a magazine data storage element between any one of the shelves and any one of the drives. The present invention also provides a magazine data storage element drive that is capable of being used in stand-alone mode, i.e., outside of a magazine-based library.