Data tape storage system
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a storage system for data tapes used in data processing systems. 
     Data tapes are conventionally kept on reels. Sealing rings with latch and hanger devices, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,833,144 of Osojnak; and 3,967,773 of Albrecht, are conventionally mounted on the tape reels to protect the tape and hang the reels in storage cabinets or racks as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,310,178 of Wright and 3,298,530 of Clouthier. Another kind of tape reel storage unit is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,538 of Armistead. 
     Most conventional tape storage racks comprise a vertical framework having opposite open front and back portions by which tapes are inserted or removed from the rack. A plurality of vertically spaced laterally extending elongated hanger bars are centrally mounted between lateral side walls of the rack. Each bar has a forward and rear set of laterally spaced openings to receive hanger devices on sealing rings mounted on tape reels. In this arrangement only two longitudinally spaced-apart, axially aligned rows of tape reels may be supported by the rack at each vertical level thereof. It is also necessary when using this type of rack arrangement to place the rack at a position in a room where it may be accessed from both the front and back. 
     It would be desirable to provide a storage rack for storing tape reels in high density axially aligned laterally extending rows in row depths, measured in a front to back direction, of greater than two tape reels. It would be further desirable to provide a storage rack having multiple closely spaced vertical levels with a plurality of such rows at each level. It would be further desirable to provide such a storage rack in an arrangement which allowed quick and easy removal of any tape stored in the rack from a single side of the rack. It would be further desirable to provide such a storage rack which allowed tapes to be easily mounted at any position within the rack from a single side of the rack. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention includes a storage rack for storage of computer data tape reels of a type having a relatively large diameter and a relatively small axial thickness and which are provided with a circumferential sealing ring having a hanger portion thereon. The storage rack comprises a vertically upright frame for supporting slide receiving means; longitudinally extending slide receiving members for receiving slide members therein operably mounted on the frame; longitudinally extending slide members for supporting bracket members thereon, slideably mounted within the slide receiving members; bracket members operably mounted within the slide members for supporting tape reels thereon in downwardly extending relationship therewith; the tape reels being supported by the bracket member in circumferentially adjacent relationship one with another and in axially perpendicular relationship to the longitudinally extending slide member. 
     The slide members are mounted in closely spaced parallel relationship in vertically spaced apart lateral rows and are extendible between a stowed position with only a forward tape reel thereon being exposed to a fully extended position with each tape reel on an associated slide member being exposed. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     An illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a storage rack for data tape reels; 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the construction of several components of the storage rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a detail side elevation cross-sectional view of a portion of the storage rack of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a detail cut-away perspective view illustrating one arrangement of horizontal structural members of a storage rack such as shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a detail cut-away perspective view illustrating another arrangement of horizontal structural members of a storage rack such as shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a detail perspective view illustrating the mounting arrangement of slide receiving members on a laterally extending horizontal structural member. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention comprises a system for providing more than two longitudinally spaced-apart, laterally extending rows of axially aligned tape reels in a storage rack. In general, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a storage rack 20 has a vertically upright frame 20 with at least one side opening 21. A plurality of vertically spaced, lateral rows 31, 33, 35, 37, 39 of longitudinally extendible and retractable slide members 82 are movable between a stowed position completely within rack 20 (e.g. FIG. 3) and variably outwardly displaced positions (e.g. FIG. 1 at 25 and 27) whereat various ones of a plurality in excess of two tape reels 12 (e.g., tape reels 12A, 12B, 12C, FIGS. 1 and 3) hung on each slide member 82 may be selectively hung on and removed from each slide member. Conventional hanger devices 15 provided on conventional circumferential sealing rings 14 may be used to hang each tape reel on the slide members, FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     Having thus described the invention in general, specific structure of one preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail. As illustrated in FIG. 1 vertically upright frame 20 may comprise vertical post members 22, 24, 26, 28 which may be constructed from steel channel members or other conventional high-strength material. The vertical members are arranged in a rectangular configuration. A set of vertically spaced laterally extending horizontal structural members 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 44, may be fixedly attached at end portions thereof between the two forward vertical members 22, 24. A second set of rear laterally extending horizontal structural members 44, etc., FIG. 3, are similarly fixedly attached to the rear vertical post 26, 28 in mirror image relationship with the forward laterally extending structural members. The vertical distance between adjacent laterally extending members is between 100% and 130% at the diameter of a tape reel to be stored and is preferably between 110% and 120%. In one preferred embodiment as illustrated in FIG. 1, longitudinally extending horizontal structural members 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, 62, 64, etc., are fixedly attached between associated pairs of forward and rear vertical post members as by welding or the like. However, depending upon the strength of slide receiving members 80, described in further detail hereinafter, the longitudinally extending structural members 52, 54, 56, etc., in some cases may not be required. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the four vertical post members 22, 24, 26, 28 are fixedly attached at the lower ends thereof to a rectangular base plate member 68, which forms the bottom surface of the rack and adds structural integrity thereto. 
     A plurality of longitudinally extending slide receiving members 80 are positioned in closely laterally spaced parallel alignment and are fixedly attached at opposite ends thereof between opposite front and rear pairs 42, 44, etc. of laterally extending structural members, FIG. 3. Longitudinally extending sliding members 82 are slideably mounted within the slide receiving members 80. A tape reel support bracket 84 for supporting tape reels 12 from hanger portions 15 of associated sealing rings 14 are mounted within each slide member 82. The slide members may be provided with handle members 86 to assist in the extension and retraction thereof. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, it may be seen that each slide receiving member 80 comprises a generally T-shaped slot 102 extending from the forward end 103 to the rear end 105 thereof. The slide member 80 has a cross-section having an upper horizontal body portion 104, a pair of outer vertically extending leg portions 106, 108, extending downwardly from the body portion 104, a pair of lower horizontally extending foot portions 110, 112 extending inwardly from the leg portions 106, 108 and a pair of inner vertically extending toe portions 114 and 116, extending upwardly from the inner ends of the foot portions 110, 112. Thus, it may be seen that a longitudinally extending slot is defined having a cross-section with a vertically extending slot trunk portion 118, a horizontally extending slot branch portion 110, and a pair of slot vertically downwardly extending limb portions 120, 121. A slide receiving member attachment means for attaching the slide receiving member to the associated pair of laterally extending structural members 42, 44, etc., are provided at either end of each slide receiving member 80. In the preferred embodiment this attachment means comprises a mushroom shaped connector button 124, 126, mounted in a pair of laterally, centrally positioned holes in upper body portion 104. Each connector button comprises a trunk portion 125 and a branch portion 127 and may be attached as by a rivet 128, 130 passing through a central portion of the connector and associated holes in the slide receiving member 80. A stop bar which may comprise a rivet 128 having a portion thereof extending downwardly a small distance (e.g. 0.1 inches) into the recess of the receiving member slot 102 co-acts with a stop pad portion 164 on slide member 82 as discussed in further detail hereinafter. 
     As best illustrated by FIG. 2, each longitudinally extending slide member 82 comprises a lower section 140 having an inverted U-shaped cross-section and an upper section 150 having a generally T-shaped cross-section. The lower section 140 comprises a horizontally extending body portion 142 of substantially the same dimension as a tape reel axial width, e.g. 1.0 inches, and two vertically extending leg portions 144, 146 integrally formed therewith and defining an inverted channel 148 running from the forward end 138 to the rear end 139 of the slide member. The slide member upper section 150 may be integrally formed with the lower section 140 and may comprise a central vertically extending trunk portion 152 extending upwardly from the lower section body portion 142, a horizontally extending branch portion 154 and a pair of outer vertically extending limb portions 156, 158, extending downwardly from the branch portion 154. The thickness of the various portions of the upper section 150 are slightly smaller than associated portions of the slot of slide receiving member 80. The centerline dimensions of the various portions of the upper section I50 and the receiving member slot 102 being substantially identical. In one preferred embodiment the thickness of the different portions of the upper section is substantially 0.05 inches and the vertical cross-sectional dimension of slot 102 branch portions are substantially 0.40 inches. A stop pad 164 which may have a thickness of substantially 0.10 inches is mounted at the rearmost end of each slide receiving member 80 at an upper surface of upper section branch portion 154. The thickness of the stop pad 164 is not sufficient to cause undue frictional contact between the slide member 82 and the slide receiving member 80 (i.e. the total vertical distance from the top of portion 142 to the top of stop pad 164 is less than the vertical dimension of slot branch portions 120, 121), but is of a sufficiently large dimension to engage the downwardly extending stop bar 128 when the slide member 82 is pulled a sufficient distance forward. The point of engagement of the stop pad 164 and the stop bar 128 thus defines a point of furthest extension of the slide member 82. Thus the stop pad 164 and stop bar 128 provide a stop means for preventing accidental removal of the slide member 82 from the storage rack. 
     It may be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4 that tape reel support brackets 84 comprise relatively flat member of bent configuration having a width substantially identical to the axial width of a tape reel which is in turn substantially equal to the width of slide member channel 148. The tape reel support bracket may comprise a first relatively short length portion 180, e.g. 0.5 inches, having two outwardly extending ears 182, 183 adapted to be received within opposite pairs of holes 185, etc., in the slide member lower section 140. Integrally formed and extending generally perpendicularly from the first bracket portion is a second relatively short length portion 184, e.g. 1.0 inches. A third integrally formed portion 186 having a relatively greater length, e.g. 2.5 inches, extends substantially perpendicular to the second portion. A fourth, relatively short length portion 188 extends inwardly at right angles to the third portion and terminates at end portion 190. In a preferred embodiment, right angle portion 191, formed by portions 184 and 186, is positioned in contact with the upper surface of channel 148. The bracket 84 is positioned in a relationship with an associated reel such that fourth portion 188 is substantially perpendicular to the circumference of the reel. The dimensions of the bracket 84 are such that a hanger portion 15 may be received on bracket first portion 180 with sufficient clearance to pivot thereabout. The construction of the bracket is such that bracket end portion 190 engages the circumference of the reel seal 14 when the reel is in a free hanging static state. The bracket thus vertically supports the reel and also stabilizes it longitudinally by preventing rearward swinging motion thereof. Forward swinging motion, however, is desirable for the purpose of removing or placing a reel on the storage rack and is freely allowed by the particular bracket arrangement. The leg portions 144, 146 of lower slide section 140 act as lateral reel stabilizers. 
     As illustrated by FIG. 3 a handle 86 may be provided for each slide member 82 and may comprise a pair of rectangular longitudinal projections 202, 204, adapted to fit into recesses formed by the T-shaped upper section 150 of the slide member 82 and to abuttingly engage a terminal end portion of slide receiving member 80 as shown in FIG. 3. The handle also comprises an abutment portion 206 adapted to abut the terminal forward end 138 of each slide member 82. A horizontally extending spacer portion 208 may be integrally formed with the abutment portion 206 and may in turn have a vertically extending portion 210 integrally formed and extending downwardly therefrom. The vertically extending portion 210 may be provided with an index card receiving slot 212 on the outer forward surface thereof to aid in indexing the storage reels. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 6 in a preferred embodiment the laterally extending structural members 32, 34, 36, etc., each comprise a U-shaped upper section 228 having an upper horizontally extending body portion 230 and two vertically downwardly extending leg portions 232, 234. Each laterally extending structural member also comprises a generally U-shaped lower section 236 having a lower horizontally extending portion 238 and a pair of vertically upwardly extending leg portions 240, 242, each having a horizontally extending foot portion 244, 246 extending outwardly from the upper end thereof. The foot portions 244, 246 are rigidly attached as by weldment or the like to the lower surface of body portion 230 of upper section 228. The upper section 228 and the lower section 236 are substantially laterally coextensive. A laterally extending slot 248 extending substantially from end to end of the lower section body portion 238 is provided for receiving and supporting an associated button connector 124, 126 mounted on each slide receiving member 80. In a preferred embodiment a short length longitudinally extending slot 250 is provided in connected relationship with the laterally extending slot 248 at one end thereof. A circular slot opening 252 having a dimension larger than the dimension of a button branch portion 127 is provided at a terminal end of the longitudinal slot 250. Thus a button connector 124, 126, having a branch portion 127 with a dimension larger than the dimension of the slot and having a trunk portion 125 with a dimension smaller than that of the slot may be slipped into the opening 250 and moved to a desired position along the slot. Thus, slide receiving members 80 may be mounted in closely spaced adjacent relationship and may be glued into position for further structural support. However, the slot arrangement allows such slide members to be slidingly disengaged from associated slots and replaced if necessary in the event they are damaged. This arrangement also provides an extremely fast and easy method of assembling the storage rack as compared to individually welding or riveting each slide receiving member 80 into place. 
     A laterally extending horizontally stiffening member 260 may be welded between two associated longitudinally extending structural members 54, 64 as shown in FIG. 4. This arrangement provides further vertical support to slide receiving members 80 at a point of maximum strain when an associated slide member 86 is placed in a fully extended position. Such an arrangement is generally desirable when relatively low strength plastic material is used to form the slide receiving members. When higher strength material is used, longitudinally extending structural members 54, 64 and stiffening member 260 may be dispensed with. 
     The present system and apparatus enables more effective utilization of available storage space by closely spacing the reel assemblies 12 laterally and longitudinally. Any reel assembly 12 on any slide member may be hung or removed without disturbing the other reel assemblies. For example, the first reel 12A, FIG. 3, may be hung on and removed from slide member 8C without movement of the slide member. The second reel 12B may be hung on and removed from slide means 86 after a relatively short movement from the storage position of FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 1 at 25. The third reel 12C may be similarly hung on and removed from slide means 86 when it is in the fully extended position shown at 27 in FIG. 1. In each case, any reel may be removed by access to only the forward face of the reels 10, thus allowing the rack to be positioned against a wall or to be positioned in ganged-together assemblies with racks attached at the sides and rear thereof. Of course, the use of three reels is merely illustrative and larger numbers of reels could also be mounted on slide members of greater length to provide greater storage capacity. 
     It is contemplated that the inventive concepts herein described may be variously otherwise embodied and it is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments of the invention except insofar as limited by the prior art.