A data storage disk cartridge library system includes a rack having an array of bays, at least some housing disk media cartridges and/or media drives, and a pair of horizontal and vertical guide rails bordering each bay. A media transport robot includes fixed-position drive wheels at each corner for driving the robot along the guide rails, and pivoting guide wheels corresponding to each drive wheel for guiding the drive wheel horizontally along a horizontal guide rail and vertically along a vertical guide rail. With each guide wheel coupled with a horizontal guide rail the robot can travel horizontally on the rack, and with each guide wheel coupled with a vertical guide rail the robot can travel vertically on the rack. Electrical power can be supplied to the robot via the guide rails, and gear portions of the wheels mechanically interface with a mechanical portion of the guide rails.

Embodiments for predetermining optimal demount position for demounting data storage cartridges in an automated data storage library by a processor. A selected demount position may be predetermined, while performing one of a plurality of robotic movements by an accessor, for each mounted data storage cartridge for demounting data storage cartridges in the automated data storage library. The selected demount position is recalculated for each mounted data storage cartridge for demounting the data storage cartridges while performing a subsequent demount operation, where the selected demount position is determined according to the recalculation prior to a demount command being issued. Accordingly, the idle time of the accessor during a demount operation may be reduced.

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.

A magnetic-tape storage apparatus having a simple structure and being able to surely store magnetic tapes on each of which valuable data are recorded and the recorded data on them at a low cost and over a long period in a small space, a magnetic-tape storage apparatus comprises a housing, a cartridge storage part, a magnetic tape drive, a cartridge transfer device [18] to selectively transfer a plurality of cartridges stored in the cartridge storage part to the magnetic tape drive and to return to the original position, a cartridge data reading device to selectively and contactlessly read data retained in each memory chip of the cartridges stored in the cartridge storage part and a computer to control them and to rewind the cartridges timely.

Embodiments for predetermining optimal demount position for demounting data storage cartridges in an automated data storage library by a processor. A selected demount position may be predetermined, while performing one of a plurality of robotic movements by an accessor, for each mounted data storage cartridge for demounting data storage cartridges in the automated data storage library such that each predetermined selected demount position is stored in a lookup table of predetermined selected demount positions for a subsequent demount operation. The idle time of the accessor during a demount operation may be reduced.

The present description is directed to moving a car within a shuttle connection that connects a first library string and a second library string contained in a shuttle complex. The shuttle complex determines a first library string data chunk count of a first library string, determines a second library string data chunk count of a second library string, and moves the car within the shuttle connection to the first library string if the first library string data chunk count is greater than the second library string data chunk count. A library string data chunk count is generally the sum of respective cartridge data chunk counts of each cartridge located within the library string. The library string data chunk count may be updated after a data chunk write to a cartridge located within the library string, may be updated after a cartridge is moved from the library string, and may be updated after a cartridge is moved to the library string.

A data storage system that moves and transfers components utilizing drones is disclosed. The data storage system comprises a data storage library for reading and writing of data on a plurality of data storage cartridges, at least one drone vehicle, a processing device, and a non-transitory, computer-readable memory containing programming instructions. The programming instructions are configured to cause the processing device to: receive a request to transfer a data storage component to a destination location in the data storage library, in response to receiving the request, instruct a drone vehicle to perform at least part of the transfer of the data storage component to the destination location, and perform at least part of the transfer of the data storage component to the destination location by the drone vehicle.

A data storage system that moves and transfers components utilizing drones is disclosed. The data storage system comprises a data storage library for reading and writing of data on a plurality of data storage cartridges, at least one drone vehicle, a processing device, and a non-transitory, computer-readable memory containing programming instructions. The programming instructions are configured to cause the processing device to: receive a request to transfer a data storage component to a destination location in the data storage library, in response to receiving the request, instruct a drone vehicle to perform at least part of the transfer of the data storage component to the destination location, and perform at least part of the transfer of the data storage component to the destination location by the drone vehicle.

A system and method for transporting one or more data storage cartridges between data storage library strings, including a plurality of data storage libraries, a plurality of shuttle connections coupled to the plurality of data storage libraries, and a plurality of shuttle cars movably housed within each of the plurality of shuttle connections. The system also includes at least one system controller, wherein the at least one system controller is configured to receive host commands and control movement of the shuttle cars between the plurality of data storage libraries, and the at least one system controller is configured to control movement of each of the shuttle cars such that at least one shuttle car is associated with each of the plurality of data storage libraries during operation of the system.

Utilities (e.g., systems, apparatuses, methods) that reduce robotic assembly contention in media element storage libraries by translating (e.g., displacing) a robot arm of a first robotic assembly mounted over a first storage array of a storage library away from a central reference plane as the robot arm is being pivoted into a first position adjacent the first storage array to allow a robot arm of a second robotic assembly to slide or otherwise move past the robot arm of the first robotic assembly, even when the robot arms of the first and second robot arms are disposed at the same height (e.g., along a z-axis) within the storage library. For instance, a pivot member of the robot arm may be mounted on a carriage that is configured to translate between the first and second storage arrays in response to the pivot member being pivoted about a pivot axis.