Random access data storage system

Claim 2

Recording medium container and transport apparatus for a random access data storage system, comprising in combination: at least one cartridge including a continuous length of elongated data storage medium contained therein, said length of storage medium having a row of sprocket holes along each side thereof, as well as one or more reference holes selectively located in relation to said sprocket holes, said cartridge further having a pair of relatively large opposing side walls and a plurality of relatively smaller intermediate end walls, at least one of said side walls having a first port for receiving drive means therein for transporting said storage medium within said cartridge, a second port in said one side wall for receiving at least signalling means therein for counting sprocket holes and said reference holes in said storage medium, both said cartridge side walls having raised inner side surface portions being structured to define a guide path for said storage medium along the inner surface of one of said end walls as well as an enclosed storage area for said storage medium, said one end wall having a third port for accessing a portion of said storage medium in said guide path by an external selectively positioned read/write head, and at least one fourth port located in said end wall for providing a signal path for said signalling means; and a drive unit engageable with said at least one cartridge for selectively driving and transporting said continuous length of storage medium linearly past a read/write head when in engagement with said cartridge, said drive unit comprising a housing containing at least one transport mechanism including actuator means, motor driven drive sprocket means comprising a single drive sprocket locatable in the first recited port of said at least one side wall of said cartridge, said drive sprocket being additionally movable by said actuator means and including means to engage said storage medium with a forward rotational movement for preventing damage to said storage medium when contact is initially made therewith, signalling means locatable at said at least one fourth port for counting said sprocket holes and said one or more reference holes in said storage medium for determining a predetermined data sector of a plurality of data sectors along the length of said storage medium, a read/write head and a drive motor thereafter located in said housing adjacent said third port and including means for selectively moving said read/write head on command transversely back and forth across said medium, and motor means for driving said drive sprocket when said read/write head is located adjacent said third port of said cartridge.

Claim 3

The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said continuous length of elongated magnetic storage medium comprises an endless loop of magnetic recording material.

Claim 4

The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said storage medium comprises an endless loop of magnetic recording film.

Claim 5

The apparatus as defined by claim 1 wherein said signalling means comprises radiant energy signalling means and said still another port in said end wall defines a radiant energy signalling path.

Claim 6

Recording medium container and transport apparatus for a random access data storage system, comprising in combination: at least one cartridge including a continuous length of elongated magnetic storage medium contained therein, said length of storage medium having a row of sprocket holes along each side thereof, as well as one or more reference holes selectively located in relation to said sprocket holes, said cartridge further having a pair of relatively large opposing side walls and a plurality of relatively smaller intermediate end walls, at least one of said side walls having a first port for receiving drive means therein for transporting said storage medium and at least one second port for receiving storage medium tensioning means therein, both said cartridge side walls having raised inner side surface portions being constructed to define a guide path for said storage medium along the inner surface of one of said end walls as well as an enclosed storage area for said storage medium, said one end wall having a third port for accessing a portion of said storage medium in said guide path by a selectively positioned read/write head, at least one fourth port located in said end wall for providing a signal path for counting said sprocket holes and said one or more reference holes in said storage medium, at least one fifth port in said end wall for receiving said tensioning means, and at least one elongated slot in said one end wall in relatively close proximity to said first port for receiving hold down means for said storage medium at the location of said drive means; a drive unit engageable with said at least one cartridge for selectively driving and transporting said continuous length of storage medium linearly past a read/write head when in engagement with said cartridge, said drive unit comprising a housing containing at least one transport mechanism including actuator means, motor driven drive sprocket means comprising a single drive sprocket locatable in said first port of said at least one side wall of said cartridge, said drive sprocket being additionally movable by said actuator means and including means to engage said storage medium with a forward rotational movement for preventing damage to said storage medium when contact is initially made therewith, tensioning means locatable in said at least one second port and being operable by said actuator means to engage and tension said storage medium through said fifth port of the cartridge in synchronism with the engagement of said drive sprocket with said storage medium, storage medium hold down means locatable adjacent said at least one elongated slot and being operable by said actuator means to contact and hold said storage medium against said drive sprocket through said slot and being operated in synchronism with the engagement of said drive sprocket with said storage medium, signalling means located in proximity to said at least one fourth port for counting said sprocket holes and said one or more reference holes in said storage medium for determining a predetermined data sector of a plurality of data sectors along the length of said storage medium, a read/write head located in said housing and being positionable adjacent said third port and including means for selectively moving said read/write head on command transversely back and forth across said medium, and motor means for driving said drive sprocket when said read/write head is positioned adjacent said third port.

Claim 7

Recording medium container and transport apparatus for a random access data storage system, comprising in combination: at least one cartridge including a continuous length of elongated magnetic storage medium contained therein, said length of storage medium having a row of sprocket holes along each side thereof, as well as one or more reference holes selectively located in relation to said sprocket holes, said cartridge further having a pair of relatively large opposing side walls and a plurality of relatively smaller intermediate end walls, at least one of said side walls having a first port for receiving drive means therein for transporting said storage medium and at least one second port for receiving storage medium tensioning means therein, both said cartridge side walls having raised inner side surface portions being constructed to define a guide path for said storage medium along the inner surface of one of said end walls as well as an enclosed storage area for said storage medium, said one end wall having a third port for accessing a portion of said storage medium in said guide path by a selectively positioned read/write head, at least one fourth port located in said end wall for providing a signal path for counting said sprocket holes and said one or more reference holes in said storage medium, at least one fifth port in said end wall for receiving said tensioning means, and at least one elongated slot in said one end wall in relatively close proximity to said first port for receiving hold down means for said storage medium at the location of said drive means; a drive unit engageable with said at least one cartridge for selectively driving and transporting said continuous length of storage medium linearly past a read/write head when in engagement with said cartridge, said drive unit comprising a housing containing at least one transport mechanism including actuator means, motor driven drive sprocket means comprising a single drive sprocket locatable in said first port of said at least one side wall of said cartridge, said drive sprocket being additionally movable by said actuator means and including means to engage said storage medium with a forward rotational movement for preventing damage to said storage medium when contact is initially made therewith, tensioning means locatable in said at least one second port and being operable by said actuator means to engage and tension said storage medium through said fifth port of the cartridge in synchronism with the engagement of said drive sprocket with said storage medium, storage medium hold down means locatable adjacent said at least one elongated slot and being operable by said actuator means to contact and hold said storage medium against said drive sprocket through said slot and being operated in synchronism with the engagement of said drive sprocket with said storage medium, signalling means located in proximity to said at least one fourth port for counting said sprocket holes and said one or more reference holes in said storage medium for determining a predetermined data sector of a plurality of data sectors along the length of said storage medium, a read/write head located in said housing and being positionable adjacent said third port and including means for selectively moving said read/write head on command transversely back and forth across said medium, and motor means for driving said drive sprocket when said read/write head is positioned adjacent said third port.

Claim 8

The apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein said continuous length of elongated magnetic storage medium comprises an endless loop of magnetic recording material.

Claim 9

The apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein said storage medium comprises an endless loop of recording film.

Claim 10

The apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein said magnetic storage medium comprises a continuous loop of 35 millimeter magnetic recording film.

Claim 11

The apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein said side walls of said at least one cartridge both include said first and said second ports which respectively oppose each other whereby said cartridge can selectively engage said drive mechanism of said drive unit from either side direction.

Claim 12

The apparatus as defined by claim 9 wherein said one end wall includes two of said fifth ports located in mutual registration with one another at the outer edge of said one end wall for receiving said tensioning means.

Claim 13

The apparatus as defined by claim 10 wherein said intermediate end walls comprises a pair of front and rear walls and a pair of top and bottom walls, wherein said one end wall comprises the rear wall thereof and including a curved intermediate corner wall portion between said top wall and said rear wall, said first port in said walls being generally circular in configuration and located adjacent said curved corner wall portion, and wherein said at least one elongated slot comprises a pair of elongated slots at the outer edge of corner wall portion and being adapted to receive said hold down means therein for contacting said storage medium at the outer sides thereof in the vicinity of said sprocket holes.

Claim 14

The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein said at least one fourth port located in said one end wall comprises a pair of fourth ports located at the outer edge of said rear wall adjacent said fifth ports and intermediate said third port and said pair of fifth ports.

Claim 15

The apparatus as defined by claim 11 wherein said opposing second ports in said side walls comprise a pair of relatively large elongated ports running substantially parallel to said rear wall and below said generally circular first ports.

Claim 16

The apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein said at least one transport mechanism additionally comprises: an elongated pivoted member rotatably supporting said drive sprocket, said pivoted member being adapted to arcuately move said drive sprocket to engage and retract from said storage medium; first gear means mounted on said pivoted member; second gear means mounted on said actuator means and being operable to mesh with said first gear means by movement of said actuator means in a first direction to rotate said drive sprocket into engagement with said storage medium.

Claim 17

The apparatus as defined by claim 14 wherein said pivoted member and said actuator means respectively include mutually engageable means for unmeshing said first and second gear means upon movement of said actuator means in said first direction a predetermined distance whereby said driving means for said drive sprocket thereafter solely supplies power thereto for selectively transporting said storage medium past said third port.

Claim 18

The apparatus as defined by claim 14 wherein said first and second gear means comprises a pinion and rack gear assembly.

Claim 19

The apparatus as defined by claim 14 wherein said first gear means comprises a pinion gear and said second gear means comprises a rack and wherein said actuator means includes an inclined cam surface for pivoting said drive sprocket into engagement with said storage medium.

Claim 20

The apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein said tension means includes a pair of mutually opposing roller means respectively mounted on first and second mutually movable support means coupled to said actuator means, said support means being operable to move said pair of roller means into contact with opposite surfaces of said storage medium by movement of said actuator means in said first direction and out of contact therewith by movement in a second direction.

Claim 21

The apparatus as defined by claim 18 wherein said first and second support means comprise respective first and second scissor type elements operable by first and second cam means, said first cam means being operable to engage said scissor element by movement of said actuator means in said first direction to close said scissor elements and bring said roller means into contact with said opposite surfaces of said storage medium and thereby tension said storage medium, said second cam means being operable by movement of said actuator means in said second direction to cause said scissor element to open and thus cause said roller means to move out of contact with said storage medium.

Claim 22

The apparatus as defined by claim 19 wherein one of said scissor elements is locatable in said second port and additionally includes pressure pad means attached thereto for contacting and thereby further tensioning said storage medium.

Claim 23

The apparatus as defined by claim 19 wherein said scissor elements additionally include opposing radiant energy emitting and sensing means being coupled together by said signal path of said at least one fourth port for counting said sprocket holes and said one or more reference holes in said storage medium.

Claim 24

The apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein said at least one elongated slot comprises a pair of elongated slots and said storage medium hold down means comprises a pair of elongated pivoted arcuate elements coupled to said actuator means and being pivoted downwardly to engage the outer edges of said storage medium through said pair of elongated slots by movement of said actuator means in said first direction.

Claim 25

The apparatus as defined by claim 22 wherein said elongated arcuate elements comprise a pair of claws having contact surface portions which are curved to contact the storage medium in the region of engagement of said drive sprocket.

Claim 26

The apparatus as defined by claim 5 wherein said means for moving said read/write head includes a computer controlled stepper motor, means for supporting and moving said read/write head laterally across said storage medium at said third port of said cartridge, and means coupling said stepper motor to said read/write head for selectively positioning said read/write head adjacent said recording medium.

Claim 27

The apparatus as defined by claim 24 wherein said coupling means comprises an anti-backlash coupling means.

Claim 28

A drive unit for selectively driving and transporting an elongated information storage medium in a random access data storage system, comprising: a housing containing a pair of identical storage medium transport mechanisms for selectively driving and transporting two separate storage mediums, each said transport mechanism including actuator means, a single drive sprocket being movable by said actuator means and including means to engage said storage medium with a forward rotational motion for preventing damage to said storage medium when contact is initially made therewith, storage medium tensioning means operable by said actuator means to engage and tension said storage medium in synchronism with the engagement of said drive sprocket with said storage medium, storage medium hold down means operable by said actuator means to contact and hold said storage medium against said drive sprocket in synchronism with the engagement of said drive sprocket with said storage medium, said housing additionally including a single read/write head and stepper motor drive assembly coupled to said read/write head for selectively moving said read/write head on command transversely back and forth between said pair of transport mechanisms for selectively accessing one of said two storage mediums, a single drive motor for selectively powering the drive sprocket of said transport mechanisms one at a time, and coupling means alternately enabled by said means coupling power to said read/write assembly for coupling said single drive motor to said drive sprocket when said read/write head is in the vicinity of the storage medium to which it is engaged.

Claim 29

A drive unit for selectively driving and transporting an elongated information storage medium in a random access data storage system, comprising: a housing containing a pair of identical storage medium transport mechanisms for selectively driving and transporting two separate storage mediums, each said transport mechanism including actuator means, a single drive sprocket being movable by said actuator means and including means to engage said storage medium with a forward rotational motion for preventing damage to said storage medium when contact is initially made therewith, storage medium tensioning means operable by said actuator means to engage and tension said storage medium in synchronism with the engagement of said drive sprocket with said storage medium, storage medium hold down means operable by said actuator means to contact and hold said storage medium against said drive sprocket in synchronism with the engagement of said drive sprocket with said storage medium, said housing additionally including a single read/write head and stepper motor drive assembly coupled to said read/write head for selectively moving said read/write head on command transversely back and forth between said pair of transport mechanisms for selectively accessing one of said two storage mediums, a single drive motor for selectively powering the drive sprocket of said transport mechanisms one at a time, and coupling means alternately enabled by said means coupling power to said read/write assembly for coupling said single drive motor to said drive sprocket when said read/write head is in the vicinity of the storage medium to which it is engaged.

Claim 30

The drive unit as defined by claim 26 and additionally including means intercoupling said drive sprocket, said tensioning means, and said storage medium hold down means of each said transport mechanism for causing said tensioning means and said storage medium hold down means to contact the respective storage medium following engagement of said storage medium by the respective drive sprocket.

Claim 31

The drive unit as defined by claim 27 wherein said means coupling said drive sprocket, said tensioning means and said storage medium hold down means of each said transport mechanism comprises a mechanical linkage coupled to said actuator means.

Claim 32

The drive unit as defined by claim 27 and wherein said tensioning means of each said transport mechanism comprises a pair of opposing roller means respectively mounted on a pair of mutually movable elements operating to cause said roller means to contact opposite sides of the respective storage medium upon the engagement of said drive sprocket with the respective storage medium.

Claim 33

The drive unit as defined by claim 29 wherein said pair of movable elements comprise a pair of pivoted links connected together intermediate their ends, said links including means connected to said actuator means for operating said links to cause said roller means to contact opposite sides of said storage medium when said drive sprocket is in engagement with said storage medium and retracting said roller elements from said storage medium when said drive sprocket disengages said storage medium.

Claim 34

The drive unit as defined by claim 27 wherein said storage medium hold down means comprises a pair of pivotally mounted claws coupled to said actuator means and being operable to pivot into contact with the outer edges of said storage medium when said drive sprocket engages said storage medium and pivots out of contact therewith when said drive sprocket disengages said storage medium.

Claim 35

The drive unit as defined by claim 26 wherein said coupling means includes respective drive belts coupled between said single drive motor and said drive sprocket of each said transport mechanism and additionally including respective belt tensioning means for transferring power from said drive motor to the respective drive sprocket, and means coupled to said belt tensioning means for tensioning said drive belt in synchronism with the read/write head being positioned adjacent the respective storage medium.

Claim 36

The drive unit as defined by claim 32 wherein said stepper motor drive assembly includes anti-backlash coupling means coupling said stepper motor to said read/write head.

Claim 37

The drive unit as defined by claim 33 wherein said anti-backlash coupling means comprises an anti-backlash drive chain.

Claim 38

The drive unit as defined by claim 34 and additionally including cam means coupled to said drive chain and cam follower means coupled to said drive belt tensioning means, said cam means and said cam follower means being operable to impart a motion to said belt tensioning means in accordance with the operation of said drive chain.

Claim 39

Data storage apparatus for use in a random access data storage system comprising: a cartridge, a continuous length of elongated storage medium located in said cartridge, said storage medium having a row of sprocket holes along each side thereof, as well as one or more reference holes selectively located in relation to said sprocket holes, said cartridge having a pair of relatively large opposing side walls and a plurality of relatively smaller intermediate end walls, at least one of said side walls having a port for receiving drive means therein for transporting said storage medium within the cartridge and at least one other port for receiving storage medium tensioning means therein, said tensioning means further including photo-optical signalling means for counting said sprocket holes and said reference holes in said storage medium, both said cartridge side walls having raised inner side surface portions being structured to define a guide path for said storage medium along the inner surface of one of said end walls as well as an enclosed storage area for said storage medium, said one end wall having another port for accessing a portion of said storage medium in said guide path by an external selectively positioned read/write head, and at least one still another port located in said end wall for providing a signal path for said photo-optical signalling means.

Claim 40

Data storage apparatus for use in a random access data storage system comprising: a cartridge, a continuous length of elongated storage medium located in said cartridge, said storage medium having a row of sprocket holes along each side thereof, as well as one or more reference holes selectively located in relation to said sprocket holes, said cartridge having a pair of relatively large opposing side walls and a plurality of relatively smaller intermediate end walls, at least one of said side walls having a port for receiving drive means therein for transporting said storage medium within the cartridge and at least one other port for receiving storage medium tensioning means therein, said tensioning means further including photo-optical signalling means for counting said sprocket holes and said reference holes in said storage medium, both said cartridge side walls having raised inner side surface portions being structured to define a guide path for said storage medium along the inner surface of one of said end walls as well as an enclosed storage area for said storage medium, said one end wall having another port for accessing a portion of said storage medium in said guide path by an external selectively positioned read/write head, and at least one still another port located in said end wall for providing a signal path for said photo-optical signalling means.

Claim 41

Data storage apparatus for use in a random access data storage system comprising: a cartridge, a continuous length of elongated data storage medium located in said cartridge, said medium having a series of holes selectively located therein for determining a start position of said storage medium and for determining a predetermined data sector of a plurality of data sectors along the length of said storage medium, said cartridge further having a pair of relatively large opposing side walls and an intermediate top and bottom wall and an intermediate front and rear wall, said side walls having respective opposing first ports for selectively receiving drive means therein for transporting said storage medium within the cartridge and respective opposing second ports for receiving storage medium tensioning means therein, both said side walls having raised inner side surface portions defining an interior guide path for said storage medium along the inner surface of said intermediate walls as well as an enclosed area for said storage medium, one intermediate wall selected from said front and rear walls having a third port for accessing a portion of said storage medium in said guide path by a read/write head, a pair of fourth ports located in said selected intermediate wall adjacent said third port and toward the outer edges of said intermediate wall for receiving storage medium tensioning means, a pair of fifth ports in relatively close proximity to said first ports at the corner joining said selected intermediate wall and a wall selected from said intermediate top and bottom wall for receiving external hold down means for said storage medium at the location of said drive means, and a pair of sixth ports in said selected intermediate wall between said fourth ports and said third port for providing a signal path for counting said holes in said storage medium.

Claim 42

Data storage apparatus for use in a random access data storage system comprising: a cartridge, a continuous length of elongated data storage medium located in said cartridge, said medium having a series of holes selectively located therein for determining a start position of said storage medium and for determining a predetermined data sector of a plurality of data sectors along the length of said storage medium, said cartridge further having a pair of relatively large opposing side walls and an intermediate top and bottom wall and an intermediate front and rear wall, said side walls having respective opposing first ports for selectively receiving drive means therein for transporting said storage medium within the cartridge and respective opposing second ports for receiving storage medium tensioning means therein, both said side walls having raised inner side surface portions defining an interior guide path for said storage medium along the inner surface of said intermediate walls as well as an enclosed area for said storage medium, one intermediate wall selected from said front and rear walls having a third port for accessing a portion of said storage medium in said guide path by a read/write head, a pair of fourth ports located in said selected intermediate wall adjacent said third port and toward the outer edges of said intermediate wall for receiving storage medium tensioning means, a pair of fifth ports in relatively close proximity to said first ports at the corner joining said selected intermediate wall and a wall selected from said intermediate top and bottom wall for receiving external hold down means for said storage medium at the location of said drive means, and a pair of sixth ports in said selected intermediate wall between said fourth ports and said third port for providing a signal path for counting said holes in said storage medium.

Claim 43

The apparatus as defined by claim 37 wherein said storage medium comprises an endless loop of magnetic storage medium and wherein said series of holes comprise a row of sprocket holes along each side thereof as well as one or more reference holes selectively located in relation to said sprocket holes for determining said start position and said plurality of data sectors.

Claim 44

The apparatus as defined by claim 38 wherein said intermediate wall joining said selected intermediate walls comprises a curved wall portion and wherein said pair of fifth ports comprises a pair of relatively thin elongated slots in said curved wall portion at the outer edges thereof.

Claim 45

The apparatus as defined by claim 39 wherein said pair of elongated slots located in said curved intermediate wall portions are located adjacent said sprocket holes and on the outside thereof along the edges of said storage medium.

Claim 46

The apparatus as defined by claim 38 wherein said storage medium comprises an endless loop of 35 millimeter film.