1. A method for using storage slots, comprising:
partitioning a library into multiple logical libraries; and
assigning a storage element count to each one of multiple logical libraries, wherein the sum of the storage element count assigned to each one of the multiple logical libraries exceeds the total number of storage slots in the library.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the storage element count for one or more of the multiple logical libraries is equal to a total number of storage slots in the library.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
allowing one or more of the multiple logical libraries to be associated with any storage slot in the library.
4. A method for assigning storage slots, comprising:
partitioning a library into one or more logical libraries;
assigning a storage slot count greater than a total number of storage slots in a library to one or more logical libraries;
adding new storage slots to the library; and
allowing one or more of the logical libraries to be associated with the newly added storage slots.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the storage slot count equals a maximum number of storage slots that may subsequently be in the library.
6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:
adding a new frame to the library that includes the new storage slots.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the new storage slots comprise storage slots whose status is changed from a status of not being eligible to be associated with one or more of the logical libraries to being eligible to be associated with one or more of the logical libraries.
8. An article of manufacture for using storage slots, wherein the article of manufacture is capable of causing operations to be performed, the operations comprising:
partitioning a library into multiple logical libraries; and
assigning a storage element count to each one of multiple logical libraries, wherein the sum of the storage element count assigned to each one of the multiple logical libraries exceeds the total number of storage slots in the library.
9. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the storage element count for one or more of the multiple logical libraries is equal to a total number of storage slots in a library.
10. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the operations further comprise:
allowing one or more of the multiple logical libraries to be associated with any storage slot in a library.
11. An article of manufacture for assigning storage slots, wherein the article of manufacture is capable of causing operations to be performed, the operations comprising: partitioning a library into one or more logical libraries;
assigning a storage slot count greater than a total number of storage slots in a library to the one or more logical libraries;
adding new storage slots to the library; and
allowing one or more of the logical libraries to be associated with the newly added storage slots.
12. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the storage slot count equals a maximum number of storage slots that may subsequently be in the library.
13. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:
adding a new frame to the library that includes the new storage slots.
14. The article of manufacture of claim 11, wherein the new storage slots comprise storage slots whose status is changed from a status of not being eligible to be associated with one or more of the logical libraries to being eligible to be associated with one or more of the logical libraries.
15. A library, comprising:
means for partitioning a library into multiple logical libraries; and
means for assigning a storage element count to each one of multiple logical libraries, wherein the sum of the storage element count assigned to each one of the multiple logical libraries exceeds the total number of storage slots in the library.
16. The library of claim 15, wherein the storage element count for one or more of the multiple logical libraries is equal to a total number of storage slots in a library.
17. The library of claim 15, further comprising:
means for allowing one or more of the multiple logical libraries to be associated with any storage slot in a library.
18. A library, comprising:
means for partitioning a library into one or more logical libraries;
means for assigning a storage slot count greater than a total number of storage slots in a library to the one or more logical libraries;
means for adding new storage slots to the library; and
means for allowing one or more of the logical libraries to be associated with the newly added storage slots.
19. The library of claim 18, wherein the storage slot count equals a maximum number of storage slots that may subsequently be in the library.
20. The library of claim 18, further comprising:
means for adding a new frame to the library that includes the new storage slots.
21. The library of claim 18, wherein the new storage slots comprise storage slots whose status is changed from a status of not being eligible to be associated with one or more of the logical libraries to being eligible to be associated with one or more of the logical libraries.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An elastic chuck, comprising:
a base plate, having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole running between the upper surface and the lower surface, a central axis defined by the through hole;
an elastic plate, being integratedly formed as a unity and having a fixing ring, a pulling block located at the center of the fixing ring, and a plurality of holders radially extending from the pulling block toward the fixing ring, the fixing ring being fixed to the base plate, the pulling block being for receiving a pulling force and movably mounted substantially along the central axis within the through hole, each said holder having a bottom surface and a top surface, the bottom surface facing the upper surface of the base plate, and a radial gap existing between the bottom surface and the upper surface; and
a plurality of jaws, each one being mounted on the top surface of the holders respectively.
2. The elastic chuck of claim 1, wherein each of the holders has an axial connecting rib that extends outward from the bottom surface thereof and is connected to the fixing ring.
3. The elastic chuck of claim 2, wherein the base plate has an outer peripheral surface, and the axial connecting rib of each of the holders faces the outer peripheral surface of the base plate, in which an axial gap exists between each of the axial connecting ribs and the outer peripheral surface.
4. The elastic chuck of claim 2, wherein each of the holders has an inner end surface facing the central axis, an outer end surface reverse to the inner end surface, two lateral surfaces connected between the inner end surface and the outer end surface, and a slit open to the outer end surface and the two lateral surfaces, in which a radial connecting rib is formed between the slit of each of the holders and the bottom surface and connected to the axial connecting rib.
5. The elastic chuck of claim 1, wherein each of the holders has an inner end surface facing the central axis, an outer end surface reverse to the inner end surface, two lateral surfaces connected between the inner end surface and the outer end surface, and a slit open to the outer end surface and the two lateral surfaces.
6. The elastic chuck of claim 1, wherein the base plate includes a main body and a flange, the main body having an outer peripheral surface, the flange being raised from the outer peripheral surface, and the fixing ring of the elastic plate being mounted around the main body and fixed to the flange.
7. The elastic chuck of claim 1, wherein the base plate has a depressed portion that is communicated with the through hole and has a plurality of accommodating sections that are radially distributed around the through hole, in which the upper surface of the base plate is located in the depressed portion, and the holders of the elastic plate each located in one said accommodating section.
8. The elastic chuck of claim 1, wherein the top surface of each said holder has a flat and smooth surface.
9. The elastic chuck of claim 8, wherein each of the jaws has a connecting surface for connecting the top surface of the corresponding holder and the connecting surface is a flat and smooth surface.
10. The elastic chuck of claim 1, wherein each of the jaws has a connecting surface for connecting the top surface of the corresponding holder and the connecting surface is a flat and smooth surface.
11. The elastic chuck of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of retaining units, each of the retaining units comprises a fixing seat and a propping member that is movably installed in the fixing seat and to be moved by an external force, the fixing seats of the retaining units being fixed to the holders, each of the jaws having a clamping surface facing the central axis and a retaining surface reverse to the clamping surface, and the propping members of the retaining units propping against the retaining surfaces of the jaws respectively.