Z-drive shipping lock for storage library robotic assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016185578-A1
Application number	US-201615062345-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 7, 2016
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for selectively disallowing unwinding of a storage library robotic mechanism cable assembly in a direction that would otherwise allow a platform of the robotic mechanism to move downwardly via the force of gravity while at the same time allowing for winding up of the cable assembly and the platform, such as during shipping, manual access, replacement of the robotic mechanism, and/or the like. The system may include a ratchet pawl for engaging between adjacent teeth of a drive assembly of the robotic mechanism and an actuator for selectively moving or allowing for movement of the ratchet pawl into and out of the engaged position. In one embodiment, the system may include an electric switch or the like to sense when the pawl is engaged with the drive assembly.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A method for use with a drive assembly of a robotics module of a storage library, the drive assembly configured to wind and unwind a cable assembly from a suspension cable reel of the drive assembly to respectively raise or lower a platform of the robotics module, the method comprising:
first positioning an actuator of the robotics module into one of at least first and second positions of the actuator; and engaging, in response to the first positioning, a portion of a ratchet pawl between adjacent teeth of a gear of the drive assembly to disallow unwinding of the cable assembly and corresponding lowering of the platform.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the engaging allows winding of the cable assembly and corresponding raising of the platform by the drive assembly.

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
second positioning the actuator into the other of the first and second positions of the actuator; and disengaging, in response to the second positioning, the portion of the ratchet pawl from between the adjacent gear teeth to allow unwinding of the cable assembly and corresponding lowering of the platform and to allow winding of the cable assembly and corresponding raising of the platform by the drive assembly.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sensing occurrence of the engaging; and sending, in response to the sensing, a signal regarding the sensed occurrence to a controller of the robotics module.

5 . A locking subsystem of a drive assembly, comprising:
a spring-loaded ratchet pawl comprising a portion thereof movable between at least first and second positions, wherein the spring-loaded ratchet pawl ratchet pawl is configured to be disengaged from between adjacent gear teeth of the drive assembly when in the first position to allow rotational movement of the drive assembly in both of first and second opposing rotational directions, and wherein the spring-loaded ratchet pawl ratchet pawl is configured to engage between adjacent gear teeth of the drive gear of the drive assembly in the first position to disallow rotational movement of the drive assembly in the first rotational direction and allow rotational movement of the drive assembly in the opposing second rotational direction; a handle movable between at least first and second positions; and a cam member rigidly secured to the handle and movable between the first and second positions of the handle, wherein the cam member urges the spring-loaded ratchet pawl into the first pawl position in the first handle position, and wherein the spring-loaded ratchet pawl moves into the second pawl position in the second handle position.

6 . The locking subsystem of claim 5 , wherein the spring-loaded ratchet pawl is in a first state of deflection in the first pawl position, wherein the spring-loaded ratchet pawl is in a second state of deflection in the second pawl position, and wherein the second state of deflection is less than the first state of deflection.

7 . The locking subsystem of claim 5 , wherein the handle comprises a knob that is rotatable about a rotation axis.

8 . The locking subsystem of claim 5 , further including:
an electric switch movable between at least first and second positions, wherein the cam member moves the electric switch into the second position when the handle is moved into the second handle position, and wherein the electric switch moves into the first position when the handle is moved into the first handle position.

9 . The locking subsystem of claim 8 , wherein movement of the electric switch into the second position generates a control signal that is sent to a controller of the drive assembly.

10 . The locking subsystem of claim 8 , wherein the cam member comprises first and second opposite portions, wherein the first portion engages the spring-loaded ratchet pawl, and wherein the second portion engages the electric switch.

11 . The locking subsystem of claim 10 , wherein engagement between the first portion of the cam member and the spring-loaded ratchet pawl and engagement between the second portion of the cam member and the electric switch are mutually exclusive.

12 . The locking subsystem of claim 10 , wherein the cam member includes a first detent that is configured to engage a second detent upon the second portion of the cam member engaging the electric switch.

13 . The locking subsystem of claim 5 , further including:
a transition member rigidly interconnecting the handle and the cam member, wherein the transition member travels within a slot to define a range of motion of the handle and cam member.

14 . A storage library, comprising:
a rack including an interior portion for storing a plurality of media elements; a platform assembly mounted within the interior portion for movement in first and second opposite directions along an axis relative to the plurality of media elements within the interior portion; a locking system secured to the rack and manipulatable between a first configuration that allows the platform assembly to move in either of the first and second opposite directions along the axis, and a second configuration that disallows the platform assembly from moving in the first direction along the axis and allows the platform assembly to move in the second direction along the axis.

15 . The storage library of claim 14 , wherein the first direction is a downward direction towards a bottom of the rack, and wherein the second direction is an upward direction towards a top of the rack.

16 . The storage library of claim 14 , further including:
a suspension cable reel; and a cable assembly secured between the suspension cable reel and the platform, wherein rotation of the suspension cable reel in a first rotation direction unwinds the cable assembly from the suspension cable reel and allows the platform assembly to move in the first direction along the axis, wherein rotation of the suspension cable reel in an opposite second rotation direction winds the cable assembly on the suspension cable reel and moves the platform assembly in the second direction along the axis, wherein manipulation of the locking system into the first configuration allows the suspension cable reel to move in either of the first and second rotation directions, and wherein manipulation of the locking system into the second configuration disallows the suspension cable reel from moving in the first rotation direction and allows the suspension cable reel to move in the second rotation direction.

17 . The storage library of claim 16 , wherein the locking system comprises:
a pawl comprising at least a portion thereof movable between at least first and second positions when the locking system is in the first and second configurations, respectively, wherein the pawl is disengaged from a gear in the first position, and wherein the pawl is engaged with the gear in the second position; and an actuator manipulatable to move the pawl into at least one of the first and second positions.

18 . The storage library of claim 17 , wherein the actuator comprises:
a handle movably secured relative to the rack between at least first and second positions; and a cam member rigidly secured to the handle and movable between the first and second positions of the handle, wherein the cam member urges the pawl into the first pawl position to disengage the pawl from the gear so that the cable suspension wheel is allowed to move in either of the first and second rotation directions in the first handle position, and wherein the pawl moves int

Assignees

• Oracle Int Corp

Inventors

• Manes Joseph Paul

Classifications

• B66D5/32 Primary

  Detent devices · CPC title

• G11B15/6835 Primary

  the cassettes being transferred to a fixed recorder or player using a moving carriage · CPC title

• A47B51/00

  Cabinets with means for moving compartments up and down {(for cabinets with parts rotating about a horizontal axis A47B46/005; for show or display A47F3/06)} · CPC title

• B65G1/10

  with relatively movable racks to facilitate insertion or removal of articles {(cabinets with means for moving compartments up and down A47B51/00; cabinet system, e.g. consisting of cabinets arranged in a row with means to open or close passages between adjacent cabinets A47B53/02)} · CPC title