Data accessing system

Claim 2

A data accessing system comprising the combination of a frame; means for supporting a plurality of tape reels in side-by-side relationship in said frame, said means for supporting comprising a plurality of reel storage boxes each dimensioned to hold one reel, each of said boxes having an open side through which a reel can be removed in a direction parallel to the axis of the reel, a wall perpendicular to the axis of the reel when a reel is stored therein, and a plurality of spring fingers, protruding into the interior of the box from said wall to engage the central opening of the reel; means for extracting a selected one of said plurality of tape reels from its relationship with the remaining reels; means for transporting said selected reel to a location near one end of said frame; means for conveying said selected reel from within said frame to a point of use outside of said frame; and means, carried by said means for transporting, for transferring said selected reel from said means for supporting to said means for transporting and from said means for transporting to said means for conveying.

Claim 3

A data accessing system comprising the combination of a frame; means for supporting a plurality of tape reels in side-by-side relationship in said frame, said means for supporting comprising a plurality of reel storage boxes each dimensioned to hold one reel, each of said boxes having an open side through which a reel can be removed in a direction parallel to the axis of the reel, a wall perpendicular to the axis of the reel when a reel is stored therein, and a plurality of spring fingers, protruding into the interior of the box from said wall to engage the central opening of the reel; means for extracting a selected one of said plurality of tape reels from its relationship with the remaining reels; means for transporting said selected reel to a location near one end of said frame; means for conveying said selected reel from within said frame to a point of use outside of said frame; and means, carried by said means for transporting, for transferring said selected reel from said means for supporting to said means for transporting and from said means for transporting to said means for conveying.

Claim 4

A data accessing system comprising the combination of a frame; means for supporting a plurality of tape reels in side-by-side relationship in said frame, said means for supporting comprising a plurality of reel storage boxes each dimensioned to hold one reel, each of said boxes having an open side through which a reel can be removed in a direction parallel to the axis of the reel, a wall perpendicular to the axis of the reel when a reel is stored therein, and a plurality of spring fingers, protruding into the interior of the box from said wall to engage the central opening of the reel; means for extracting a selected one of said plurality of tape reels from its relationship with the remaining reels; means for transporting said selected reel to a location near one end of said frame; means for conveying said selected reel from within said frame to a point of use outside of said frame; and means, carried by said means for transporting, for transferring said selected reel from said means for supporting to said means for transporting and from said means for transporting to said means for conveying.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for supporting a plurality of reels further comprises a floor panel for supporting said plurality of reel storage boxes, said panel having a plurality of upstanding spaced parallel ribs defining elongated recesses in which said boxes can slide in direction perpendicular to the axes of the reels supported thereby, each of said recesses being at least twice as long as the diameter of a reel, the normal storage location for said boxes being at one end of the recesses; and wherein said means for extracting one of said plurality of reels includes means for sliding the box containing the selected reel from the normal storage location along the recess to a location at which the reel can be moved axially without interfering with the remaining reels.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for extracting a selected one of said reels includes means for moving one of said reel boxes in a direction perpendicular to the reel axis from a normal storage location to a second location and for returning the box to its normal location.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for transferring said selected reel includes a plurality of radially extendible and retractable fingers; means for carrying said fingers in a plane perpendicular to the axis of a reel, said fingers being angularly disposed in interengaging relationship with said plurality of spring fingers in said reel boxes.

Claim 8

A data accessing system comprising the combination of a frame; means for supporting a plurality of tape reels in side-by-side relationship in said frame; means for extracting a selected one of said plurality of tape reels from its relationship with the remaining reels; means for transporting said selected reel to a location near one end of said frame; means for conveying said selected reel from within said frame to a point of use outside of said frame; and means, carried by said means for transporting, for transferring said selected reel from said means for supporting to said means for transporting and from said means for transporting to said means for conveying, said means for transferring a selected reel including a plurality of radially extendible and retractablE fingers; and means for carrying said fingers in a plane perpendicular to the axis of a reel and in equiangular disposed relationship.

Claim 9

A data accessing system comprising the combination of a frame; means for supporting a plurality of tape reels in side-by-side relationship in said frame; means for extracting a selected one of said plurality of tape reels from its relationship with the remaining reels; means for transporting said selected reel to a location near one end of said frame; means for conveying said selected reel from within said frame to a point of use outside of said frame; and means, carried by said means for transporting, for transferring said selected reel from said means for supporting to said means for transporting and from said means for transporting to said means for conveying, said means for transferring a selected reel including a plurality of radially extendible and retractablE fingers; and means for carrying said fingers in a plane perpendicular to the axis of a reel and in equiangular disposed relationship.

Claim 10

A data accessing system comprising the combination of a frame; means for supporting a plurality of tape reels in side-by-side relationship in said frame; means for extracting a selected one of said plurality of tape reels from its relationship with the remaining reels; means for transporting said selected reel to a location near one end of said frame, said means for transporting including bridge means for traversing said frame along said plurality of tape reels and for supporting said means for extracting guide means mounted on said frame for supporting and guiding said bridge means; and a motor for moving said bridge means along said guide means, means for conveying said selected reel from within said frame to a point of use outside of said frame; and means, carried by said means for transporting, for transferring said selected reel from said means for supporting to said means for transporting and from said means for transporting to said means for conveying.

Claim 11

A data accessing system comprising the combination of a frame; means for supporting a plurality of tape reels in side-by-side relationship in said frame; means for extracting a selected one of said plurality of tape reels from its relationship with the remaining reels; means for transporting said selected reel to a location near one end of said frame, said means for transporting including bridge means for traversing said frame along said plurality of tape reels and for supporting said means for extracting guide means mounted on said frame for supporting and guiding said bridge means; and a motor for moving said bridge means along said guide means, means for conveying said selected reel from within said frame to a point of use outside of said frame; and means, carried by said means for transporting, for transferring said selected reel from said means for supporting to said means for transporting and from said means for transporting to said means for conveying.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said motor is an electric motor.

Claim 13

A data accessing system comprising the combination of a frame; means for supporting a plurality of tape reels in side-by-side relationship in said frame; means for extracting a selected one of said plurality of tape reels from its relationship with the remaining reels; means for transporting said selected reel to a location near one end of said frame; means for conveying said selected reel from within said frame to a point of use outside of said frame, said means for conveying including a pair of parallel guide rails extending from within said frame to a point external of said frame; a reel carrier journalled for movement along said guide rails; a plurality of spring fingers protruding from said reel carrier to support and grip a reel; a motor to drive said reel carrier; and mechanical means interconnecting said motor and said reel carrier; and means, carried by said means for transporting, for transferring said selected reel from said means for supporting to said means for transporting and from said means for transporting to said means for conveying.

Claim 14

A data accessing system comprising the combination of a frame; means for supporting a plurality of tape reels in side-by-side relationship in said frame; means for extracting a selected one of said plurality of tape reels from its relationship with the remaining reels; means for transporting said selected reel to a location near one end of said frame; means for conveying said selected reel from within said frame to a point of use outside of said frame, said means for conveying including a pair of parallel guide rails extending from within said frame to a point external of said frame; a reel carrier journalled for movement along said guide rails; a plurality of spring fingers protruding from said reel carrier to support and grip a reel; a motor to drive said reel carrier; and mechanical means interconnecting said motor and said reel carrier; and means, carried by said means for transporting, for transferring said selected reel from said means for supporting to said means for transporting and from said means for transporting to said means for conveying.

Claim 15

A tape reel retrieval system comprising a plurality of tape bin assemblies each including a frame; means for supporting a plurality of tape reels in side-by-side relationship in said frame; means for extracting a selected one of said plurality of tape reels from its relationship with the remaining reels; means for transporting said selected reel to a location near one end of said frame; and means, carried by said means for transporting, for transferring said selected reel means for supporting to said means for transporting, and from said means for transporting; said system further comprising means for receiving a reel from said means for transporting and for conveying the reel selected from one of said bin assemblies to a point external of said plurality of bin assemblies, said means for receiving a reel from said means for transporting and for conveying the reel selected including two parallel guide rails extending along ends of said plurality of tape bin assemblies; a reel carrier movable along said guide rails; a plurality of spring fingers protruding from said reel carrier to support and grip a reel; and means for driving said reel carrier.

Claim 16

A tape reel retrieval system comprising a plurality of tape bin assemblies each including a frame; means for supporting a plurality of tape reels in side-by-side relationship in said frame; means for extracting a selected one of said plurality of tape reels from its relationship with the remaining reels; means for transporting said selected reel to a location near one end of said frame; and means, carried by said means for transporting, for transferring said selected reel means for supporting to said means for transporting, and from said means for transporting; said system further comprising means for receiving a reel from said means for transporting and for conveying the reel selected from one of said bin assemblies to a point external of said plurality of bin assemblies, said means for receiving a reel from said means for transporting and for conveying the reel selected including two parallel guide rails extending along ends of said plurality of tape bin assemblies; a reel carrier movable along said guide rails; a plurality of spring fingers protruding from said reel carrier to support and grip a reel; and means for driving said reel carrier.