Modular data cartridge library

1. A data cartridge library, comprising:

a plurality of library modules, each library module capable of holding data cartridges, the plurality of library modules arranged in a first column and an adjacent second column; and

a first conveyor disposed with the first column and a separate second conveyor disposed with the second column, the first conveyor for transporting a carriage to and receiving the carriage from the second conveyor through a first port, the second conveyor for transporting the carriage to and receiving the carriage from the first conveyor through the first port, and the carriage configured to receive and hold one or more of the data cartridges.

2. The data cartridge library of claim 1 , wherein each library module is capable of holding its respective data cartridges in a predetennined orientation, and the carriage is configured to receive and hold the one or more of the data cartridges in an orientation substantially identical to the predetermined orientation.

3. The data cartridge library of claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of library modules includes a front, the fronts generally aligning to form a plane, and the predetermined orientation of the data cartridge includes a dimension of the data cartridge being substantially perpendicular to the plane.

4. The data cartridge library of claim 3 , further comprising a first picker disposed with the first conveyor, the first picker rotatable about an axis of rotation generally parallel with the plane, the first picker for retrieving data cartridges from and providing data cartridges to the carriage.

5. The data cartridge library of claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of data cartridge storage slots disposed along an arc swept, upon rotation of the first picker, by an end of the first picker distal from the axis of rotation.

6. The data cartridge library of claim 1 , further comprising a shuttle for transporting a data cartridge along the first column of library modules.

7. The data cartridge library of claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor includes a belt having a first surface with teeth formed thereon, the teeth for meshing with teeth formed on an underside of the carriage.

8. The data cartridge library of claim 7 , wherein the belt has a second surface with teeth formed thereon for meshing with teeth of a drive gear about which the belt is wrapped.

9. The data cartridge library of claim 1 , wherein the first conveyor is disposed in a first link module and the second conveyor is disposed in a second link module, and the port is defined by substantially aligned openings defined in each of the first link module and the second link module.

10. The data cartridge library of claim 1 , wherein the first column and the second column are disposed generally perpendicular to a base surface, and the carriage is transported by the first conveyor and the second conveyor generally parallel to the base surface.

11. The data cartridge library of claim 1 , further comprising

a third column of library modules; and

a third conveyor disposed with the third column, the third conveyor for transporting the carnage to and receiving the carriage from the second conveyor through a second port between the third column and the second column, and the second conveyor further for transporting the carriage to and receiving the carriage from the third conveyor through the second port.

12. The data cartridge library of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of library modules includes a front, the fronts of the library modules in the first column generally aligning to define a first plane, further comprising

a third column of library modules, each library module in the third column including a front, the fronts of the library modules in the third column generally aligning to define a second plane, the first plane and the second plane non-parallel, and

an adapter disposed between the third column and the second column, the adapter including a third conveyor rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to a height dimension of the third column, the third conveyor for receiving the carriage from the second conveyor through a second port and rotating to align with a third port through which the carriage may be conveyed to the third column of library modules.

13. An automated data cartridge library module, comprising:

a generally rectangular housing having a length dimension, a height dimension and a width dimension, the rectangular housing configured for use in a generally columnar array comprising a plurality of library modules, the housing defining a port;

a belt looped around a drive gear and a support gear, the belt generally perpendicular to the port and generally parallel to the width dimension of the housing, and the drive gear rotatable by a motor; and

a carriage removably disposed on the belt, the carriage sized to fit through the port for receipt by an adjacent library module and configured to hold one or more data cartridges, the carriage conveyable on the belt upon rotation of the drive gear by the motor.

14. The automated data cartridge library module of claim 13 , further comprising:

a picker disposed proximate the belt, and rotatable about an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to the belt and generally parallel to the height dimension of the housing, the picker interfacing with a shuttle configured for transporting cartridges from one of the plurality of library modules in the generally columnar array and for inserting data cartridges in and removing data cartridges from the carriage.

15. A modular data cartridge library method, comprising:

retrieving a data cartridge from a slot in a library module, the slot configured for holding the data cartridge in a predetermined orientation, the library module being one of a plurality of library modules arranged in a first column;

disposing the data cartridge on a carriage disposed on a first conveyor, the data cartridge disposed in an orientation generally identical to the predetermined orientation; and

conveying the carriage through a first port to a second conveyor of a second column of library modules disposed adjacent to the first column while maintaining the orientation of the data cartridge in the carriage.

16. The modular data cartridge library method of claim 15 , wherein the first column and the second column are generally perpendicular to a base surface, and the carriage is conveyed in a direction generally perpendicular to a height dimension of the first column.

17. The modular data cartridge library method of claim 16 , further comprising:

further conveying the carriage in a direction generally perpendicular to the

height dimension of the first column through a second port to a third conveyor of a third column of library modules disposed adjacent to the second column while maintaining the orientation of the data cartridge in the carriage.