Cartridge Protector for Sliding Rack Storage Systems and Method Therefore

1. Field of the invention

This invention relates to the field of storage rack systems for magnetic data tape cartridges and particularly to an apparatus and method for protecting tape cartridges in sliding rack storage systems.

2. Statement of the Problem

Large information systems utilizing computers are requiring more and more data cartridge storage cartridges. This correspondingly requires more storage area for these cartridges. Since there is typically only a limited amount of physical space allotted to the storage of the data cartridges, there is increasing pressure to better utilize the space available for the storage of data storage cartridges.

One such solution to the problem of providing increased storage capacity within limited areas is the use of sliding rack systems, such as the double density sliding rack systems manufactured by Engineered Data Products, Inc. of Louisville, Colo. In this system, sliding racks are mounted in the front of and the rear of static racks. This system provides additional storage with only a small amount of increased size.

One problem in sliding rack storage systems occurs when tape cartridges are not fully inserted into the static storage racks. The sliding racks may strike against cartridges which are not fully inserted into the static racks, resulting in damage to the cartridge or even the rack itself.

Thus, a problem exists in sliding storage rack systems wherein damage may occur from cartridges which are not fully inserted in the appropriate storage pack.

3. Solution to the Problem

This problem and others are solved by the storage system of the present invention. The present invention provides a storage rack system for securing a plurality of tape cartridge holders in a high density capacity while reducing the possibility of damage from cartridges which are not fully inserted.

The present invention provides a safety device which will deflect cartridges which extend partially into the path of the sliding racks back into the storage racks.

The present invention provides a safety device which will at least partially absorb the impact from striking cartridges which extend partially into the path of the sliding racks.

The present invention provides a safety device which is easily mountable as original equipment or retrofitted to existing devices.

These and other solutions are provided by the present invention as set forth in the accompanying description and drawings.

The present invention provides a safety device for movable storage rack systems. These types of storage rack systems typically include a center rack having tape cartridge storage capacity on opposing sides of the center rack. Sliding racks having additional tape cartridge storage capacity are mounted on either or both of the front and rear sides of the center rack for movement along the sides of the center rack.

The sliding racks are mounted on either or both sides of the center racks so that at least one column of tape cartridges stored on the center racks are accessible. The sliding racks can then be moved along the center racks so any desired column of the center racks can be accessed for cartridge entry and removal.

The safety device of the present invention includes a deflector member extending angularly or curved outward from the rear edges of the sliding racks on both of the leading sides of each sliding rack. The deflector member is preferably formed of a plastic material and secured by rivets on the rear of the sliding racks. The deflector members angle or curve into the path of movement of the sliding racks and away from the center rack. As the sliding racks are moved along the rack system, the deflector members "sweep" any cartridges which are not fully inserted in the center storage racks back into the storage area of the center rack to prevent damage to the cartridges or the rack system.

This "sweeping" action occurs due to the design of the deflector members. The outer edge of the deflector members initially engage any cartridges extending in the path of movement of the sliding racks. As the sliding rack continues forward, the pressure from the deflector member against the cartridges will increase due to the curved or angled portion of the deflector member as the sliding rack continues to move to deflect the cartridges inward out of the path of the sliding rack.

The deflector members also act as "bumpers" to at least partially absorb the impact of striking cartridges which it is not able to deflect. The compression of the angled or curved portion of the deflector member and the resilience of the plastic material will assist in absorbing impact.

The deflector member is relatively inexpensive and can be supplied as original equipment on the rack systems or retrofitted to existing systems.

These and other features of the present invention will be evident from the detailed description of a preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sliding rack tape storage system with a preferred embodiment of the cartridge deflector members of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the rack storage system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the rack storage system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an upper corner perspective view of the system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the cartridge deflector in operation.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the cartridge deflector member.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the cartridge deflector deflecting cartridges.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the cartridge deflector absorbing the impact of striking the cartridge.

1. Tape cartridge storage systems

The present invention provides a safety device for protecting tape cartridges and rack systems from damage due to tape cartridges extending into the path of movement of sliding racks. One possible preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. It is to be expressly understood that this descriptive embodiment is for explanatory purposes only and is not meant to limit the scope of the claimed invention. Other embodiments and modifications are considered to be within the range of the inventive concept.

Storage rack system 10, shown in FIG. 1, includes center storage rack 20. Center storage rack 20 has storage areas 22, 24 on opposing sides of center storage rack 20. Tape cartridges C are stored within each storage area 22, 24 by well known devices, such as tape cartridge holder packs.

Sliding racks 30, 32, 34, 36 are conventionally mounted onto center storage rack 20 to slide, as described below, relative to center storage rack 20. In the descriptive embodiment, sliding racks 30-36, shown in FIGS. 2, 3, include upper rollers 40 engaged in roller guides 42, 44 on the upper portion of center storage rack 20. Lower rollers 45, shown in FIG. 3, are mounted on the lower portion of sliding racks 30-36. Lower rollers 45 engage lower roller guides 46, 48 to support sliding racks 30-36 for movement relative to center storage rack 20. This description of a particular sliding rack system is not meant to limit the present invention to this particular rack system. The present invention is designed to operate with conventional sliding rack systems.

Each sliding rack 30-36 include storage areas for storing tape cartridges C therein, similar to storage areas 22, 24. Sliding racks 30-36 are moved in order to access or store tape cartridges C in storage areas 22, 24 of center storage rack 20, as illustrated in FIG. 1. In this manner, high density storage of tape cartridges is possible. However, as discussed in the background of the invention, tape cartridges, such as tape cartridges C.sub.1, C.sub.2, C.sub.3, shown in FIG. 1, which are not fully inserted in the center rack storage areas 22, 24, may be struck by sliding racks 30-36 as the sliding racks are moved to gain access to storage areas 22, 24. This can, at the very least, damage the tape cartridges and to data stored thereon, and may even result in damage to rack system 10 itself. The present invention provides tape cartridge deflector members 50 to minimize the damage due to tape cartridges which are not fully inserted into the center storage rack storage areas from impact due to movement of the sliding racks. The present invention is independent of the tape storage rack system configuration. For example, the center storage rack could be mounted against a wall and, therefore, sliding racks would be on one side only.

2. Deflector members

Tape cartridge deflector members 50, shown in FIGS. 1-5, are mounted on the rear walls 31, 33, 35, 37, respectively, of sliding racks 30-36 adjacent to the leading sides of sliding racks 30-36. In the preferred embodiment, tape cartridge deflector members 50 are formed of an impact-resistant plastic, such as PVC or polyurethane. Other materials can be used as well that will provide the necessary properties of impact resistance, stiffness and some degree of resilience. Although shown as transparent in the drawings in order to more easily display the operation of tape cartridge deflector members 50, the tape cartridge deflector members can be provided in opaque colors coordinated with the rack system colors.

All of deflector members 50 are similar in design so only one will be discussed at this time. Tape cartridge deflector member 50 of the present invention includes flat mounting portion 52, shown in FIG. 4, attached to the rear wall 33 adjacent the side of sliding rack 32 and extending the full height of sliding rack 32. In the preferred embodiment, mounting portion 52 is attached by rivets 54 on the rear wall of the sliding rack. It is to be expressly understood that the present invention is not meant to be limited by the design in the descriptive embodiment used for attachment. Other attachments could be used. For example, a channel could be formed in the sliding rack and deflector member could slide into engagement within the channel. Other methods of attachment could also be used, such as screws, staples, adhesives and the like depending on the material the racks are made from.

Deflector portion 56 of tape cartridge deflector members 50 is curved outwardly in the direction away from center storage rack 20 and into the path of movement of sliding racks 30-36. Deflector portion 56 may be curved or angled, as desired. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, leading edge 58 of deflector portion 56 is spaced away from center rack 20 and in the path of movement of sliding racks 30-36. As deflector portion 56 nears the sliding rack, the spacing between deflector portion 56 and center rack 20 is decreased due to the curvature or angle of deflector portion 56.

3. Operation of Deflector Member

In operation, as shown in FIG. 5, tape cartridges C.sub.4, C.sub.5, extend partially out of center rack 20 and into the path of movement, indicated by arrow A, of sliding rack 36. Leading edge 58 of deflector portion 56 initially engages the tape cartridges C.sub.4, C.sub.5. As sliding rack 36 travels along the path in the direction of arrow A, increasing perpendicular pressure, as illustrated by arrows P.sub.1, P.sub.2, from deflector member 50, due to the decreasing curvature or angle of deflector portion 56, deflects the tape cartridges into the center storage rack 20 so sliding rack 36 will not strike the tape cartridges. Deflector portion 56, as shown in FIG. 7, is designed, by material choice and by the curvature or angle of deflector portion 56 to be stiff to provide the force necessary to deflect the tape cartridges yet have sufficient flexibility to provide a resilient bias from the impact against tape cartridges extending in the path of movement of sliding rack 36. Thus, tape cartridge deflector members 50 gently "sweep" the tape cartridges out of the path of movement of the sliding racks.

Curved deflector portion 56 acts as a "bumper" as well to at least partially absorb the impact from striking tape cartridges extending into the path of movement of the sliding racks, especially if deflector member 50 is unable to deflect the tape cartridge. If deflector member 50, shown in FIG. 8, is unable to deflect a tape cartridge out of the path of the moving sliding rack, then curved deflector portion 56 will absorb at least some of the impact of the sliding rack against the tape cartridge to reduce the potential of damage to the tape cartridge or rack system 10. This "bumper" action is a result of the material choice and of the curvature of the deflector portion. The curvature or angle of deflector portion 56 will compress to at least partially absorb the impact. The material for deflector portion 56 is selected to be sufficiently rigid in order to deflect the tape cartridges out of the path but has some degree of flexibility in order to at least partially absorb any impact from striking the tape cartridge.

The deflector portion can be formed of various curvatures or even angular shapes according to the storage rack system used. Also, stiffer or more resilient materials can be used according to the storage rack system on which the deflector member is to be installed. Furthermore deflector member 50, rather than being solid construction, could also be constructed in the form of a plurality of strips with each strip substantially oriented in the center of each tape cartridge and perpendicular to rear walls 31, 33, 35, 37.

The present invention is thus able to provide protection to sliding storage rack systems from damage due to tape cartridges extending out of a center rack and into the path of the sliding rack. This protection is twofold. First, the deflector member of the present invention sweeps tape cartridges extending into the path of movement of the sliding rack back into the center storage rack to minimize damage. This feature is due to the deflector member extending outwardly from the rear wall of the sliding rack in a direction away from the center rack and into the path of movement. Second, the deflector member is able to at least partially absorb any impact from striking the tape cartridge should the tape cartridge not be deflected. This feature is due to compression of the curved or angled portion of the deflector member creating a "bumper" for the sliding rack. The deflector member is relatively inexpensive and can be supplied as original equipment on new rack systems or retrofitted onto existing rack systems.

The present invention provides a method for minimizing damage to tape cartridges and sliding rack storage systems due to tape cartridges extending into the path of movement of the sliding racks. A center rack is provided having a storage area for a plurality of tape cartridges. A sliding rack is provided having a storage area for a plurality of tape cartridges. The sliding rack is mounted for movement relative to the center rack along a path. A deflector member formed having a curved or angled portion is affixed to the rear wall of the sliding rack so that the curved or angled portion extends into the path of movement of the sliding rack. Tape cartridges extending into the path of movement of the sliding rack are deflected by the deflector member out of the path of movement of the sliding rack. The deflector member also at least partially absorbs the impact from striking the tape cartridges.

It is to be expressly understood that this description of one possible preferred embodiment is not meant to limit the scope of the claimed inventive concept. Other variations and embodiments are considered to be within the claimed inventive concept.