US4361858A — Method and apparatus for selecting elements

Claim 1

Independent Claim 140 words

An apparatus for selecting one of a plurality of elements comprising: a means having an entrance area therein for receiving a selected one of said elements; means for moving said plurality of elements in first and second directions with respect to said entrance area; means for diverting a said element away from and into said entrance area when said element is moving respectively, in said first and second directions, with respect to said entrance area; means for sensing which one of said plurality of elements is located at a predetermined position with respect to said entrance area, and control means responsive to said sensing means for controlling said moving means to move said plurality of elements in said second direction when a selected element is located at said predetermined location to thereby move said selected element into said entrance area.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 140 words

An apparatus for selecting one of a plurality of elements comprising: a means having an entrance area therein for receiving a selected one of said elements; means for moving said plurality of elements in first and second directions with respect to said entrance area; means for diverting a said element away from and into said entrance area when said element is moving respectively, in said first and second directions, with respect to said entrance area; means for sensing which one of said plurality of elements is located at a predetermined position with respect to said entrance area, and control means responsive to said sensing means for controlling said moving means to move said plurality of elements in said second direction when a selected element is located at said predetermined location to thereby move said selected element into said entrance area.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 46 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said means having said entrance area therein is cylindrical in shape and said moving means comprises a rotor having said plurality of elements thereon and drive means for rotating said rotor in said first and second directions.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 69 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said diverting means comprises a diverter gate having one end pivotally joined to said means having said entrance area therein and also having a resilient means to bias said diverter gate to an open position with respect to said entrance area to divert a said selected element into said entrance area when said rotor is moving in said second direction.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 52 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said sensing means comprises a unique coded member secured to said rotor for each said element of said plurality, and also comprises a means for reading said coded members for sensing which one of said plurality of elements is at said predetermined position.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which each said element is a data storage device and in which said apparatus further comprises a read/write means located with regard to said entrance area for receiving a said data storage device in reading/writing relationship therewith.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which said data storage device is a tape cassette.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 45 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which each said coded member has an identical portion thereon to enable said reading means to initiate the reading thereof, and each said coded member has additional portions present or absent in accordance with a predetermined code.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 51 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which said rotor is shaped generally as a torus and has a driving flange extending therefrom and in which said moving means further comprises a reversible motor operatively connected to said driving flange to move said rotor in said first and second directions.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 56 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which said moving means further comprises a plurality of rods upstanding from said rotor, with one said element being pivotally joined to each of said rods to enable the associated said element to be biased into said entrance area when said rotor is moving in said second direction.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 68 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said means having said entrance area therein has a general planar surface, and said moving means comprises: first and second endless members having said plurality of elements pivotally secured therebetween in spaced relationship along the length of said endless members; and also comprises drive means for moving said first and second endless members in said first and second directions.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 60 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which said diverting means comprises a diverter gate having one end pivotally joined to said means having said entrance area therein and also having a resilient means to bias said diverter gate to an open position with respect to said entrance area to divert a said selected element into said entrance area.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 57 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which said sensing means comprises a unique coded member secured to one of said first and second endless members for each said element of said plurality, and also comprises means for reading said coded members for sensing which one of said plurality of elements is at said predetermined position.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 44 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which each said element is a data storage device and in which said apparatus further comprises a read/write means located with regard to said entrance area for receiving a said selected element in reading/writing relationship therewith.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which each said storage device is a magnetic tape cassette.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 60 words

The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 in which said drive means further comprises first and second sprockets for mounting said first endless member thereon; third and fourth sprockets for mounting said second endless member thereon; and a reversible motor operatively coupled to said first and third sprockets for rotating them; and said first and second members being endless chains.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 99 words

A method of selecting one of a plurality of elements comprising the steps of: (a) mounting said plurality of elements in spaced relationship on a carrier; (b) moving said carrier with said plurality of elements thereon in a first direction towards and past an entrance area; (c) identifying which one of said elements is located at a predetermined location with reference to said entrance area; (d) moving said carrier in a second direction opposite to said first direction when a selected element is identified as being at said predetermined location; (e) deflecting said selected element into said entrance area.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 99 words

A method of selecting one of a plurality of elements comprising the steps of: (a) mounting said plurality of elements in spaced relationship on a carrier; (b) moving said carrier with said plurality of elements thereon in a first direction towards and past an entrance area; (c) identifying which one of said elements is located at a predetermined location with reference to said entrance area; (d) moving said carrier in a second direction opposite to said first direction when a selected element is identified as being at said predetermined location; (e) deflecting said selected element into said entrance area.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method as claimed in claim 16 in which said elements comprise data storage devices and said method further comprises the step (f) of moving said selected data storage device into operative engagement with an associated read/write device located in said entrance area.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 119 words

A method of providing a data storage device comprising: (a) storing data on a plurality of tape cassettes; (b) mounting said plurality of cassettes in spaced relationship on a carrier; (c) moving said carrier with said plurality of cassettes thereon in a first direction towards and past an entrance area; (d) identifying which one of said cassettes is at a predetermined location with reference to said entrance area; (e) moving said carrier in a second direction opposite to said first direction when a selected cassette is identified as being at said predetermined location; (f) deflecting said selected cassette into said entrance area and moving said selected cassette into operative engagement with a read/write device located in said entrance area.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 119 words

A method of providing a data storage device comprising: (a) storing data on a plurality of tape cassettes; (b) mounting said plurality of cassettes in spaced relationship on a carrier; (c) moving said carrier with said plurality of cassettes thereon in a first direction towards and past an entrance area; (d) identifying which one of said cassettes is at a predetermined location with reference to said entrance area; (e) moving said carrier in a second direction opposite to said first direction when a selected cassette is identified as being at said predetermined location; (f) deflecting said selected cassette into said entrance area and moving said selected cassette into operative engagement with a read/write device located in said entrance area.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1985-11-29	1986-05-31	1986-11-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1989-11-29	1990-05-31	1990-11-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1993-11-29	1994-05-31	1994-11-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for selecting elements

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag