Vertically translating input/output station

摘要

The present invention provides an Input/Output station of an automated storage and retrieval system, or library, which uses an elevator mechanism to vertically translate a cartridge or a magazine containing a plurality of cartridges from a maximum vertical position above the top surface of the library to a minimum vertical position beneath the top surface and internal to the library. The Input/Output station is aligned with the other components of the library such that the vertical path of the elevator mechanism does not interfere with the path of the accessor. The operation of the Input/Output station does not pause the accessor and thus, does not interfere with the operation of the other automated processes within the library. Cartridges can be added to or removed from the library using the Input/Output station while the accessor is moving a different cartridge from a storage cell in the storage array to a drive.