Claims
- 1. A data cartridge magazine for use in a magazine-based data cartridge library that is capable of transporting data cartridge magazines within the library, the data cartridge magazine comprising:
a box structure with an interior space for accommodating a plurality of data cartridges; wherein said box structure comprises a bottom wall with a bottom wall interior surface and a bottom wall exterior surface; wherein said box structure comprises a side wall that is operatively attached to said bottom wall, extends from said bottom wall to a side wall terminal edge, and has a side wall interior surface and a side wall exterior surface; wherein said bottom wall interior surface and said side wall interior surface define said interior space; wherein said side wall terminal edge defines a top opening for the insertion/extraction of data cartridges into/from said interior space; a plurality of partitioning structures for dividing said interior space into a plurality of slots with each of said plurality of slots capable of accommodating a data cartridge; and a magazine transport means for being engaged by a portion of a magazine transport device that is associated with a magazine-based data cartridge library and used to displace a data cartridge magazine towards and away from a storage location within a magazine-based data cartridge library.
- 2. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said magazine transport means comprises a hole that is associated with one of said bottom wall and said side wall.
- 3. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said magazine transport means comprises a protrusion that is associated with one of said bottom wall and said side wall.
- 4. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said magazine transport means comprises an indentation that is associated with one of said bottom wall and said side wall.
- 5. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said magazine transport means comprises a pair of holes, with each of said pair of holes associated with one of said bottom wall and said side wall.
- 6. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said magazine transport means comprises a pair of protrusions, with each of said pair of protrusions associated with one of said bottom wall and said side wall.
- 7. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said magazine transport means comprises a pair of indentations, with each of said pair of indentations associated with one of said bottom wall and said side wall.
- 8. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
an engaged/disengaged structure for use with a sensor that is used to determine if a magazine transport device associated with a magazine-based data cartridge library is engaged/disengaged to/from the data cartridge magazine.
- 9. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a magazine orientation structure for ensuring that the data cartridge magazine has a desired orientation within a magazine-based data cartridge library.
- 10. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said magazine orientation structure comprises an asymmetric structure this is asymmetric relative to a plane that vertically bisects the data cartridge magazine.
- 11. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:
said asymmetric structure comprises a pair of parallel rails.
- 12. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a retaining structure for use in holding the data cartridge magazine in association with a shelf within a magazine-based data cartridge library but releasing the data cartridge magazine when a force is applied to the data cartridge magazine by a magazine transport device associated with the magazine-based data cartridge library.
- 13. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:
said retaining structure comprises a notch for engaging a notch-engaging structure associated with a shelf.
- 14. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:
said retaining structure comprises a detent for use in engaging a notch associated with a shelf.
- 15. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:
said retaining structure comprises: a detent for engaging a notch associated with a shelf; and a spring for applying a force to said detent.
- 16. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a data cartridge orientation structure associated with each of said slots to ensure that when a data cartridge is inserted into a slot, the data cartridge has a desired orientation.
- 17. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of cartridges with each of said plurality of cartridges located in one of said plurality of slots.
- 18. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
label means for use in identifying the data cartridge magazine.
- 19. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:
said label means comprises an indentation in said side wall for accommodating a label for identifying the magazine.
- 20. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:
said label means comprises: a first indentation in said side wall exterior surface for accommodating a first label for identifying the magazine; and a second indentation in said side wall exterior surface for accommodating a second label for identifying the magazine.
- 21. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 20, wherein:
said side wall comprising a first wall and a second wall that is substantially parallel to said first wall; wherein said first indentation is located in said first wall; and wherein said second indentation is located on said second wall.
- 22. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:
said label means comprises a sleeve for holding a label.
- 23. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:
said label means comprises a radio-frequency identifier.
- 24. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a label that identifies the data cartridge magazine and is attached to said box structure at a location that is discernable by a label reader located within a magazine-based data cartridge library.
- 25. A data cartridge magazine for use in a magazine-based data cartridge library that is capable of transporting data cartridge magazines within the library, the data cartridge magazine comprising:
a frame structure that defines a space for accommodating a plurality of data cartridges; a partitioning structure for dividing said space into a plurality of slots with each of said plurality of slots being capable of accommodating a data cartridge and orienting the data cartridge such that a face of the data cartridge with the greatest surface area lies in a vertical plane when the magazine is operatively situated in a magazine-based data cartridge library; and a magazine transport means for being engaged by a portion of a magazine transport device associated with a magazine-based data cartridge library and used to displace a data cartridge magazine towards or away from a shelf within the magazine-based data cartridge library.
- 26. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:
said frame structure comprises: a first pair of parallel side surfaces; and a second pair of parallel side surfaces that are perpendicular to said first pair of parallel side surfaces.
- 27. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:
said frame structure comprises: a first pair of parallel side surfaces; a top surface that is perpendicular to said first pair of parallel side surfaces; and a bottom surface that is perpendicular to said first pair of parallel side surfaces.
- 28. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:
said magazine transport means comprises a hole that is associated with said frame structure.
- 29. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:
said magazine transport means comprises a protrusion that is associated with said frame structure.
- 30. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:
said magazine transport means comprises an indentation that is associated with said frame structure.
- 31. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:
said magazine transport means comprises a pair of holes that are associated with said frame structure.
- 32. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:
said magazine transport means comprises a pair of protrusions that are associated with said frame structure.
- 33. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, wherein:
said magazine transport means comprises a pair of indentations that are associated with said frame structure.
- 34. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:
an engaged/disengaged structure for use with a sensor that is used to determine if a magazine transport device associated with a magazine-based data cartridge library is engaged/disengaged to/from the data cartridge magazine.
- 35. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:
a magazine orientation structure for ensuring that the data cartridge magazine has a desired orientation within a magazine-based data cartridge library.
- 36. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 35, wherein:
said magazine orientation structure comprises an asymmetric structure this is asymmetric relative to a plane that vertically bisects the data cartridge magazine.
- 37. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 36, wherein:
said asymmetric structure comprises a pair of parallel rails.
- 38. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:
a retaining structure for use in holding said data cartridge magazine in association with a shelf within a magazine-based data cartridge library but releasing the data cartridge magazine when a force is applied to the data cartridge magazine by a magazine transport device associated with the magazine-based data cartridge library.
- 39. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 38, wherein:
said retaining structure comprises a notch for engaging a notch-engaging structure associated with a shelf.
- 40. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 38, wherein:
said retaining structure comprises a detent for use in engaging a notch associated with a shelf.
- 41. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 38, wherein:
said retaining structure comprises: a detent for engaging a notch associated with a shelf; and a spring for applying a force to said detent.
- 42. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:
a data cartridge orientation structure associated with each of said slots to ensure that when a data cartridge is inserted in a slot, the data cartridge is in a predetermined orientation.
- 43. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:
a plurality of cartridges with each of said plurality of cartridges located in one of said plurality of slots.
- 44. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:
label means for use in identifying the data cartridge magazine.
- 45. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 44, wherein:
said label means comprises an indentation located in a portion of said frame structure that would be considered a side wall when the data cartridge magazine has an operational orientation with respect to a shelf within a magazine-based data cartridge library, wherein said indentation is for accommodating a label for identifying the magazine.
- 46. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 44, wherein:
said label means comprises: a first indentation located in a first portion of said frame structure; and a second indentation in a second portion of said frame structure that is separated from said first portion; wherein said first indentation is for accommodating a first label for identifying the magazine; wherein said second indentation is for accommodating a second label for identifying the magazine; wherein said first and second portions are each located on a section of said frame structure that would be considered a side wall when the data cartridge magazine has an operational orientation with respect to a shelf within a magazine-based data cartridge library system.
- 47. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 46, wherein:
said first portion being located on a first side wall; and said second portion being located on a second side wall that is parallel to said first side wall.
- 48. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 44, wherein:
said label means comprises a sleeve for holding a label.
- 49. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 44, wherein:
said label means comprises a radio-frequency identifier.
- 50. A data cartridge magazine, as claimed in claim 25, further comprising:
a label that identifies the data cartridge magazine and is attached to said frame structure at a location that is discernable by a label reader located within a magazine-based data cartridge library.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/682,800, filed on Oct. 19, 2001, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09682800 |
Oct 2001 |
US |
Child |
10604122 |
Jun 2003 |
US |