Abstract: A recordable media library is provided wherein the library includes a plurality of carousels, one of the carousels being a primary carousel and the other carousels being sub-carousels. The sub-carousels have recordable media receptacles, such as that used for cartridges of optical or magnetic data. A support such as a framework, is provided. The primary carousel is mounted on the support for rotation about a central axis. The sub-carousels are rotatably mounted on the primary carousel, each sub-carousel having an axis of rotation which is coextensive with the central axis of the primary carousel. With this arrangement any one or a combination of the sub-carousels can be rotated with respect to the primary carousel into a location where a recordable media receptacle can be accessed by one or more cartridge pickers. The cartridge pickers may be mounted on the support for movement along respective axes which are parallel to the central axis of the carousels.

Abstract: A library of disk media units for use in a data processing environment wherein receptacle columns hold multiple cartridges which in turn hold multiple media units comprised of caddies and recording disks. A picker system moves media into and from the drive units and receptacle columns. Drive units are also located within the receptacle columns. The caddies and cartridges are supplied with hole patterns to coact with optical sensors within the receptacle columns and thereby provide information to the library controller indicating the proper/improper operation of the picker system in positioning media units. Also, the hole pattern on the media unit enables the sensors to provide informational content about the media unit to the processor.

Abstract: A single accessing mechanism is deployed adjacently to two optical media libraries. Each library has a plurality of record medium storage compartments arranged respectively into a one-compartment wide column. Each library has its own media drive (player or recorder). An accessing module in the accessing mechanism is movable along the column lengths. The accessing module has two transfer compartments respectively for transferring record media in respective ones of said libraries between the respective storage compartments and the respective media drives. The compartments, either in the accessing module or the library, are vertically offset. A vertical space between vertically adjacent record media enables a fetching apparatus to simultaneously enter such space in both libraries. Moving the accessing module upward or downward respectively selects the record medium to be fetched--in only one of the two libraries.

Abstract: A write protection system for machine-readable data storage disks, such as optical disks, of a single or multiple disk cartridge, where write protection of any disk can be individually enabled or disabled while the cartridge is inserted into a disk drive. Separate trays support each of the disks, all trays being housed by a cartridge. When the cartridge is inserted into the disk drive, only a face of the cartridge is exposed. Each tray includes a write protection mechanism positioned near the cartridge face when that tray is housed by the cartridge. Each mechanism provides a user-selectable, machine-readable indication of the protection status of its associated disk. An exemplary mechanism includes a resilient finger, deformably pivotable from a released position to an activated position when a deflection pin is pressed against the finger through an activation hole in the cartridge face. A detente is resiliently urged toward the finger, at an intersecting angle thereto.

Abstract: A media library system has a plurality of independently-operated library arrays disposed in a side-by-side relationship along a first direction. Each of the library arrays has a media drive and a plurality of media storage receptacles arranged in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction. A separate media transport apparatus in each of the library arrays has a moveable media holder for moving media along the second direction between the storage receptacles in the library arrays and the media drives, respectively, in the independently-operated library arrays. A media exchanging and input common apparatus has a media carrier disposed for movement adjacent a common end of all of the independently-operated library arrays along the first direction. The media carrier has a media-transfer stop location at each of the library arrays at the common end of each of the library arrays.

Abstract: A double storage multi-carousel recordable media library is provided which includes a plurality of vertically stacked carousels mounted for rotation about a vertically extending central axis. Each carousel has a plurality of receptacles which are angularly spaced about the central axis, each receptacle being capable of storing a pair of recordable media disks. Each carousel has a large peripheral cutout which is located between a pair of receptacles for allowing passage of the disks and each receptacle has a smaller peripheral cutout for allowing movement of a transport device. Each carousel cutout is capable of alignment along a transport axis which is parallel to the central axis so that a disk can be transported vertically therealong. A disk chucking device is mounted for receiving and releasably retaining disks which are moved vertically along the transport axis.