SLACK SENSOR FOR A STORAGE LIBRARY

摘要

Systems and methods are described for providing sensing slack on cabling coupled between a drive mechanism and a carriage. Embodiments of the carriage are configured so that the cables are substantially in tension when Z-directional movement of the carriage is substantially unimpeded and at least one cable manifests slack when Z-directional movement is impeded. Accordingly, detecting slack on the cables can be used to detect impedance to Z-directional movement of the carriage. According to some embodiments, a novel slack sensor translates tension on the cables into a forward pulling force that holds the slack sensor in a deactivated state. A reverse force is maintained on the slack sensor in a magnitude and direction that causes the slack sensor to move to an activated state whenever sufficient tension is not manifest on the cables. Slack can thus be detected by detecting when the slack sensor is in its activated state.