Vertical Pass-Through for Data Storage Library Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Storage library systems face limitations in throughput due to physical constraints such as increased distances traversed by robots during pick and place operations and are restricted by the fixed number of cartridges they can hold, leading to reduced access times and the need for additional libraries for expansion.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of multiple robotic assemblies with gripper mechanisms for concurrent operation and active pass-through assemblies that allow cartridges to be ferried between storage libraries, both vertically and horizontally, enabling increased throughput and physical expansion without the need for separate libraries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the library size is expanded to store more cartridges, then the storage capacity increases, but the distance traversed by the robot increases, leading to reduced throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The storage library is divided into multiple zones with multiple robotic assemblies operating concurrently in each zone. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high throughput while storing more cartridges, as each robot operates independently within its zone rather than one robot traversing the entire expanded library.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-robot linear operation to a multi-robot parallel operation architecture. By adding the dimension of multiple concurrent robotic operations, the system achieves both increased storage capacity and maintained throughput, resolving the contradiction between quantity and productivity.
2Device complexity
If a single robotic assembly is used to simplify the system, then the device complexity is reduced, but the throughput is limited by the single robot's operation speed
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple robotic assemblies are merged into a single integrated storage library system with shared control and coordination. This merging allows the system to achieve high throughput through parallel operations while managing complexity through unified system architecture and coordination protocols.
3Area of stationary object
If the library footprint is reduced to fit in half of a standard equipment rack, then the space efficiency improves, but the number of cartridges that can be stored is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses vertical stacking to utilize the third dimension (height) of the equipment rack. By stacking storage modules vertically and implementing inter-layer cartridge transfer mechanisms, the system achieves high storage capacity within a compact footprint, resolving the contradiction between area efficiency and storage quantity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include systems and methods for providing throughput increase and/or physical expansion of a data storage library. Some embodiments include multiple robotic assemblies, each having its own hand assembly, which are electrically and mechanically integrated for concurrent use in a single storage library environment for increased throughput. Other embodiments include an active vertical pass-through assembly that operates to ferry cartridges from one storage library environment to another, vertically adjacent storage library environment. Some such embodiments use existing robotic mechanisms of the libraries to exploit a shared slot through which vertical pass-through functionality can be realized. Other embodiments include an active horizontal pass-through assembly that operates to ferry cartridges from one storage library environment to another, horizontally adjacent storage library environment. Some such embodiments include a separate robotic mechanism that couples with each library and actively passes a cartridge among them and is adjustable to varying spans between the libraries.