Method and apparatus for safely shipping tape drives while mounted inside a frame of an automated tape library

摘要

A system of shipping tape drives while they are mounted to a frame uses shipment brackets to retain the drives within the frame in retracted positions during shipment. The brackets allow the drives to be shipped inside the frame. The brackets hold the drives in the retracted position within the frame by clipping into the drives and the shelves above the drives. Tabs on each bracket snap into a drive such that the drive cannot move with respect to the bracket or the shelf. The drive is pushed into position until the bracket is fully engaged with the shelf above the drive and the tabs have prevented the drive from further insertion. Because the bracket is engaged, the drive no longer can move in or out of the shelf.