Storage apparatus for shuffling removable storage media

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing that is configured to receive and retain a plurality of removable storage media, the housing including an open first end, an opposed, closed second end, a first channel that is configured to receive and retain a first subset of the plurality of removable storage media, and a second channel that is configured to receive and retain a second subset of the plurality of removable storage media, the first channel and the second channel being shaped to receive and retain the plurality of removable storage media in respective single-file rows via the open first end; and

a shuffler that is positioned at least partially within the housing, the shuffler being movable between a resting position and a second position wherein the shuffler has been moved away from the resting position, the shuffler including a rake that protrudes into the first channel to contact and move a first removable storage medium of the first subset of the plurality of removable storage media toward the open first end when the shuffler is moved from the resting position to the second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein when the rake contacts and moves the first removable storage medium of the first subset of the plurality of removable storage media toward the open first end as the shuffler is moved from the resting position to the second position, the shuffler moves each of the first subset of the plurality of removable storage media toward the open first end.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shuffler further includes a catch that is coupled to the rake; and wherein when the shuffler is in the resting position, the catch is located near the open first end and the rake is positioned near the closed second end.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a gripper that is configured to selectively grip the catch and pull the catch outwardly away from the open first end to move the shuffler from the resting position to the second position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the gripper includes a robotic transport within an automated removable storage media library, the robotic transport including a body and a claw that is coupled to the body; and wherein the claw is configured to selectively grip the catch to move the shuffler from the resting position to the second position.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein when the shuffler is in the resting position, the catch is positioned relative to a second removable storage medium of the first subset of the plurality of removable storage media such that, when the gripper grips the second removable storage medium, the gripper also grips the catch.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising computing architecture including a processing system that is configured to control the gripper.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a spring that is attached to the shuffler and the housing; and wherein force from the spring returns the shuffler to the resting position when the catch is released by the gripper.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the shuffler further includes a second rake that protrudes into the first channel to contact and move a second removable storage medium of the first subset of the plurality of removable storage media toward the open first end when the shuffler is moved from the resting position to the second position.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the second rake is collapsible.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first channel is a bottom channel that is configured to receive and retain the first subset of the plurality of removable storage media; and wherein the second channel is a top channel that is configured to receive and retain the second subset of the plurality of removable storage media, the top channel being positioned substantially directly above the bottom channel.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a separator that inhibits the second subset of the plurality of removable storage media from falling onto the first subset of the plurality of removable storage media.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein a gap in the separator at the closed second end is large enough to allow a second removable storage medium of the second subset of the plurality of removable storage media to fall into the bottom channel.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a retaining catch that is located in the gap; wherein when the shuffler has been moved away from the resting position, the retaining catch holds the second removable storage medium in the top channel; and wherein when the shuffler returns to the resting position, the retaining catch is released to allow the second removable storage medium to fall into the bottom channel.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein when inserting a third removable storage medium into the top channel for inclusion in the second subset of the plurality of removable storage media, the third removable storage medium pushes other removable storage media in the second subset of the plurality of removable storage media towards the closed second end; and wherein the second removable storage medium falls into the bottom channel upon clearing the gap.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of removable storage media include magnetic tape cartridges.

17. A method comprising the steps of:

receiving and retaining a plurality of removable storage media within a housing, the housing including an open first end, an opposed, closed second end, a first channel that is configured to receive and retain a first subset of the plurality of removable storage media, and a second channel that is configured to receive and retain a second subset of the plurality of removable storage media, the first channel and the second channel being shaped to receive and retain the plurality of removable storage media in respective single-file rows via the open first end;

positioning a shuffler at least partially within the housing; and

moving the shuffler between a resting position and a second position wherein the shuffler has been moved away from the resting position, the shuffler including a rake that protrudes into the first channel to contact and move a first removable storage medium of the first subset of the plurality of removable storage media toward the open first end when the shuffler is moved from the resting position to the second position.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of moving includes the shuffler further including a catch that is coupled to the rake; wherein when the shuffler is in the resting position, the catch is located near the open first end and the rake is positioned near the closed second end; and the method further comprising the steps of selectively gripping the catch with a gripper; and pulling the catch outwardly away from the open first end with the gripper to move the shuffler from the resting position to the second position.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the step of receiving and retaining includes the first channel being a bottom channel that is configured to receive and retain the first subset of the plurality of removable storage media, and the second channel being a top channel that is configured to receive and retain the second subset of the plurality of removable storage media, the top channel being positioned substantially directly above the bottom channel; and the method further comprising the step of inhibiting the second subset of the plurality of removable storage media from falling onto the first subset of the plurality of removable storage media with a separator.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of inhibiting includes the separator including a gap at the closed second end that is large enough to allow a second removable storage medium of the second subset of the plurality of removable storage media to fall into the bottom channel; and the method further comprising the steps of positioning a retaining catch in the gap; wherein when the shuffler has been moved away from the resting position, holding the second removable storage medium in the top channel with the retaining catch; and wherein when the shuffler returns to the resting position, releasing the retaining catch to allow the second removable storage medium to fall into the bottom channel.